Food group signs Port Salford deal
THE food group behind brands such as Green Giant and Old El Paso says it will be able to save 600,000 road haulage miles a year after signing a deal to use the new multi-modal distribution facility at Port Salford.
The UK arm of General Mills, the US company which also owns Häagen-Dazs ice cream, has become the first customer of the Culina Group’s 280,000 sq ft ambient warehouse, which is opening in April 2016, and creating 280 jobs.
Port Salford, which is being developed by Peel Ports, will act as a central hub for General Mills’ ambient brands like Betty Crocker and Nature Valley arriving by short sea freight from Europe.
Port Salford, which is being developed by Peel Ports, will act as a central hub for General Mills’ ambient brands arriving by short sea freight from Europe.
Located next to the Manchester Ship Canal and the M60 and M62, using Port Salford will improve General Mills’ current supply chain and unlock future opportunities to move freight by rail.
General Mills UK & Ireland supply chain director Dave Howorth said: “We are very excited about this new distribution agreement as it reinforces our commitment as a company to finding solutions that are best for customers, consumers and the environment, and our move to Port Salford ticks all those boxes.”
Thomas Van Mourik, chief executive of Culina Group, said: “We are absolutely delighted that General Mills, one of our long standing, world class customers, will be housed at our unique and game-changing logistics facility. Port Salford is a fantastic strategic development for Culina Group and the strength of the proposition is underscored by the fact that such an important customer is fully committed to the project, even at this very early stage.”
Mark Whitworth, CEO of Peel Ports Group, added: “This excellent news is a clear endorsement of the benefits to the UK supply chain that we envisaged when developing Port Salford and such investments are helping the North West to transform the UK logistics infrastructure.
“As well as excellent road and rail links, the area will soon be able to offer the unique route of the Manchester Ship Canal, connected directly to our new Liverpoool2 container terminal, enabling companies to get closer to their markets.”
