Forest products group commits to major ports investment

Jenkins, a national logistics provider specialising in paper, pulp and other forest products, is to invest in a £17m custom-built warehouse at the Port of Liverpool.

The business, which has been a tenant at the Port of Liverpool for 10 years, has reached an agreement on managed services at Liverpool and its sister port London Medway, with the aim of increasing traffic significantly at both ports.

The commitment secures more than 500,000 sq ft of warehouse space, 300,000 sq ft of which is new investment in a bespoke state-of-the-art paper and pulp facility at the Port of Liverpool.

The facility will provide a major increase in capacity at Liverpool allowing Jenkins to increase its throughput. Construction on the warehouse is due to begin this year and be completed in 2020.

Operating from eight locations in the UK and Ireland, Jenkins provides stevedoring and specialised materials handling, dedicated quayside warehousing, and a range of other warehouse and transport services.

The company is owner-managed and been operating for 35 years.

Paul O’Hare, managing director of Jenkins, said: “We’re really excited about this major new development in Liverpool that will significantly increase our footprint in the UK and allow us to expand the range of services we can offer our customers in the North West.”

Mark Whitworth, Peel Ports chief executive, said: “We’re seeing increased demand for imports of paper and pulp products, especially in the South East, where our new managed service with Jenkins will provide the capacity for market growth that our customers are looking for.”