Magnavale has broken ground on its new Bristol cold storage facility, which it said would have capacity for 90,000 pallets once operational.
Magnavale said that once complete, its Bristol facility will provide cold storage and value-added services for both existing and new food sector customers.
The site is positioned at the junction of the M4 and M5, providing access to South Wales and the Southwest of England.
Amanda Cogan, chief operations officer at Magnavale, commented: “This groundbreaking represents the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the Magnavale Network. Magnavale Bristol will be a critical partner for food businesses in the region, providing capacity and innovation where it is most needed.”
Andrew Lawrence, director of investment company Sadel Group, said: “Breaking ground today represents a major step forward in addressing the longstanding cold storage gap in the Southwest. With works now underway, we are on course to deliver one of the UK’s most advanced automated facilities, designed to support supply chain resilience, food security, and sustainability for decades to come.”
The facility is modelled on the recently completed Magnavale Easton site in Lincolnshire, which Magnavale said featured “advanced automation, cutting-edge refrigeration systems and dynamic mezzanine floors”. These will aim to support a range of value-added services including picking, packing, date coding and export handling.
Heavy machinery is now clearing the site and preparing the ground for the next stage of works. Over the coming weeks, contractors will move forward with foundations and piling operations, laying the essential groundwork for the state-of-the-art facility to rise.
