Supermarket chain opens new £100m warehouse, employing more than 750 staff
Iceland Foods, the Deeside-based supermarket group, has opened its new 500,000 sq ft distribution centre in Warrington, which will employ more than 750 staff.
The £100m investment marks a major investment in the retailer’s supply chain and reinforces its commitment to long term growth, it said.
The new facility, developed in partnership with GXO Logistics, the world’s largest pure-play contract logistics provider, will deliver significant benefits to the local community, the retailer said.
Located at Omega Park, the new site will be Iceland’s largest warehouse to date.
The majority of staff have relocated from the former Woolston depot, nearby, bolstered by 40 new recruits.
This will serve as a vital hub for distributing products to more than 350 Iceland stores nationwide, with the potential to expand its reach to 500 locations in the future.
The warehouse, which includes ambient, chill, and frozen chambers, has been designed with future growth in mind, incorporating modern technology to drive efficiency and ensure a resilient supply chain.
Iceland’s investment also supports a more sustainable operation, with the site partly powered by solar panels to increase green energy consumption.
Iceland Foods CEO, Tarsem Dhaliwal, said: “We’re always looking at ways to make our business stronger, more efficient, and better for our customers. Investing in our supply chain is a huge part of that, and this new state-of-the-art warehouse is a game changer.
“It gives us the capacity to grow, improve service, and futureproof our operations for years to come.”
He added: “Warrington means a lot to me personally, as the place where I grew up, and it gives me particular pleasure to have been able to make such a major investment here.
“We’re proud to be employing more than 750 people and delivering real economic benefits to the local community.”
The new site will deliver increased economic activity that will boost local tax revenues, helping to fund improvements to public services such as schools, roads, and public safety.
Local authorities have also already secured a multimillion-pound investment to enhance the transportation network into Omega Park through the creation of two new bus services to facilitate the workforces travel to and from both the Warrington and St Helens regions.
Gavin Williams, managing director UK and Ireland, GXO, said: “We’re proud to be delivering the next phase of our logistics partnership with Iceland as we support their long term ambitions with a warehouse that is fit for the future.
“The new Warrington regional distribution centre is great news for the local community and for our colleagues, who will help us assist Iceland’s growth plans across the country.”
