Marks & Spencer has confirmed plans to open a new 390,000 square foot distribution centre as part of the development of its logistics network.
In a statement, the company has said the new site is part of plans to develop a modern logistics network, with additional capacity for growth and cites modernising the supply chain as a key pillar in its ‘Reshape for Growth’ strategy.
The new depot will process stock and serve stores in the Midlands, South-west England and South Wales. The site is located mid-way between existing sites at Bristol and Portbury and is expected to open in 2026.
“This new site will ensure that we are getting the right products to the right stores at the right time.”
Alex Freudmann, MD at M&S Food, commented: “Modernising our supply chain is key to increasing the capacity in our network and will help us get ahead of the volume curve we are driving in M&S Food to meet our ambition of becoming a shopping list retailer. This new site will ensure that we’re getting the right products to the right stores at the right time for our customers. It will also create a great working environment for our colleagues.”
Increasing capacity and working towards sustainability goals
M&S has said that the site will be its most sustainable food depot in the UK and will include solar panels, ducting in the yard for electric vehicles and electric charging points.
The new depot comes on top of other recent investments by M&S in the South West. In December, the retailer opened a renewed and expanded Foodhall at Cribbs Causeway and later this year will open new stores at Cabot Circus in Bristol and Bath City Centre.
As part of its plans to modernise its supply chain, the company has implemented other measures including the ‘One Best Way’ retail operations programme, which it says is improving productivity and contributing to structural cost reductions, and the roll-out of a new forecasting and ordering system to help better match supply to market conditions to improve availability.
