A £20 million state-of-the art temperature-controlled distribution centre is to be built at the Port of Tilbury in partnership with NFT Distribution, potentially creating scores of jobs.
The centre, planned to open in late 2015, is a long-term partnership investment with NFT - the UK’s market-leader in chilled food distribution - aimed at creating a unique distribution centre which will be one of the largest refrigerated ('reefer') quayside facilities in Europe.
The distribution centre will benefit from the latest distribution technology systems, and is expected to create 500 new jobs.
The 230,000 sq ft building - which will have capacity for 25,000 pallets, and be able to handle more than 2.5 million cases per week- will be located within the Essex-based port's estate, adjacent to the London Container Terminal, which handles over 500,000 containers each year.
Charles Hammond, group chief executive of Forth Ports, which owns the Port of Tilbury, said: “This is a very significant announcement for the Port of Tilbury, and we are delighted to be working with NFT to create one of the largest temperature-controlled facilities in Europe at our port.
'Being located at London’s major port at Tilbury, this new distribution centre will be at the heart of the logistics process and support NFT’s goal to ensure a seamless experience for their major customers in the UK.
'We are proud to build further on our already well-established reputation for the receipt and handling of fresh produce. Ports are a key part of an efficient supply chain, and with the additional land assets available it makes sense, both financially and from a customer service point of view, for businesses to use the port not only as an import/export service, but as a logistics hub.”
David Frankish, CEO of NFT, added: “This PortCentric extension to NFT’s offering and substantial expansion to our chilled warehousing capacity in the South East will be a further step in defining our future development and growth as a key innovator of logistics services for the UK and global food industry.
We deliver £11bn worth of food products (at retail value) to UK retailers and manufacturers each year, and NFT has experienced major success borne of its ability to provide integrated solutions to complex logistical challenges.
'We look forward to the centre opening later this year, and we are confident of its commercial success based on the level of enquiries this new platform is generating already.”
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