Subscribe

Tag: warehouse

Indurent Hits Milestone: 18 % Portfolio Growth in First Year

Posted on by Will Priestman

In just twelve months from its July 2024 launch, Indurent—a prominent developer, owner, and operator of UK industrial and logistics real estate—has delivered impressive results: more than £1 billion invested and 18 % growth in its portfolio. Indurent

A Strong Start from Day One

Formed through the integration of St Modwen Logistics and Industrials REIT, Indurent began with a robust foundation—solid development capabilities, a deep landbank, and a streamlined operating platform. Since inception, the company has scaled both workforce and operations with remarkable speed. Indurent

Scaling Up: Space, People, and Clients

  • Portfolio footprint: Expanded from approximately 27 million sq ft to 32 million sq ft, covering both multi-let industrial and big-box logistics formats across the UK Indurent.
  • Team growth: Workforce increased by nearly 30 %, now standing at 230 employees Indurent.
  • Client base: Now serving 2,500+ customers, from local trades to global giants like Amazon, and creative disruptors such as N2 Creative (set builders for Gangs of London) Indurent.

Leasing Momentum and Noteworthy Deals

Indurent has leased over 2.4 million sq ft of space across nearly 450 transactions during this period. Standout agreements include:

  • Herman Miller committing to a 110,000 sq ft build-to-suit unit at Indurent Park Chippenham.
  • AerFin, an aviation specialist, moving its headquarters into a 116,000 sq ft office and industrial facility at Indurent Park Newport—doubling its capacity. Indurent

Leadership Insight: Building a Sustainable Future

Julian Carey, CEO of Indurent, reflects on a milestone year:

“The strong momentum we’ve built in our first year as Indurent reflects the strength of our portfolio. We’ve been able to scale at pace, delivering highly sustainable space in prime locations and deploying market-leading tools like Hive to meet the needs of modern businesses.”

“There is growing recognition that logistics and industrial infrastructure form the backbone of the modern economy. Planning reform, supply constraints, and occupier demand are all creating tailwinds for growth. We’ve laid a strong foundation in year one, and we’re excited to build on it.”

Waitrose Sign Multi-Million-Pound Distribution Centre Deal

Posted on by David Priestman

Mountpark has signed a lease agreement with Waitrose for a new distribution centre at Mountpark Bristol 360 in Avonmouth.

The 360,926 sq ft Mountpark Bristol 360 will serve as the retailer’s fifth regional distribution centre. Set to be operational by autumn 2026, the facility will enhance delivery efficiency to approximately 50 existing Waitrose stores across the south west, while also offering the capacity to support future store openings.

The facility has been rated BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ and holds an EPC A+ certification. Its roof is equipped with 1,200 solar panels, generating 625 kVA of power, supported by 118 kW of Tesla battery storage.  Designed with sustainability and employee wellbeing in mind, Mountpark Bristol 360 includes features such as a roof terrace, landscaped gardens, and extensive ribbon glazing to maximise natural light to the warehouse marshalling areas.

Once operational, Waitrose expects the site to help it cut supply chain emissions by 2,225 tonnes of CO₂ per year, contributing to its goal of becoming fossil fuel free by 2030 and net zero carbon by 2035.

Bart Holt-Smith, Director, Capital Markets and Development for Mountpark said: “Waitrose’s selection of Bristol 360 is a strong endorsement of our ability to deliver buildings that meet the evolving needs of modern logistics from commercial performance to environmental responsibility. We’re proud to be working with a brand of Waitrose’s calibre and delighted that our shared commitment to sustainability and quality aligns so closely. We look forward to welcoming this iconic British retailer and supporting its continued success in the region.”

Strategically located with direct access to the M49, M4, M5 and key regional freight corridors, Mountpark Bristol 360 will play a central role in servicing Waitrose’s future ambitions. The retailer is working on plans to open new convenience and full-line stores throughout the UK.  Last month, it announced that a shop will be built at Brabazon in north Bristol, which is expected to open in 2027, and later this year a new convenience store will open in The Arches, Bristol.

Alison Maffin, Waitrose’s Supply Chain Director, said; “This multi-million-pound investment is an important step in modernising our supply chain and setting us up to build the capacity needed for our growth plans. It will also enable us to better serve our customers in the region, more efficiently supply our existing shops and reduce our operating costs and carbon emissions. The modern and sustainable features of Mountpark Bristol 360 make it an excellent fit for our business.”

Mountpark Bristol 360 is part of Mountpark’s expanding UK portfolio of Grade A logistics developments and is located at Central Park, Avonmouth, one of the South West’s most strategically significant distribution hubs. The forthcoming M49 Junction 1 will further enhance connectivity, providing Bristol 360 with improved access to the UK’s motorway and freight networks, and reinforcing its long-term value as a distribution base.

Read Similar…

Build-to-Suit Warehouse Headquarters

Podcast: Pedals & Pallets – Safety in the Saddle & Aisle

Posted on by David Priestman

In this ‘cycling podcast’ episode of Logistics Business Conversations, host Peter MacLeod speaks with Jim Ryan, founder of Sentry Protection Products, in a discussion that creatively draws parallels between cycling and warehouse safety. Ryan, a lifelong cycling enthusiast, uses his passion for the sport to illustrate key lessons in business strategy and safety innovation. He compares the forward momentum required in cycling to the need for constant progress and innovation in business—stopping, he says, means falling behind.

His long-distance cycling trips, particularly a cross-country ride with his brother, serve as a metaphor for planning in business, emphasizing the importance of having a main goal, a stretch objective, and a fallback option to manage unforeseen challenges.

The conversation explores the origins of Sentry’s signature product — an energy-absorbing column protector — and its evolution into a broader range of warehouse safety solutions. Ryan explains how initial resistance, particularly in European markets like Germany, gave way once competitors adopted similar concepts, validating the market need and helping push safety standards forward. He also discusses the role of collaboration, even with competitors, to advance industry-wide safety improvements.

Cycling Podcast

A major theme of the episode is the balance between speed and safety. Drawing comparisons to motorsports and modern cycling safety gear like radar-based lights, Ryan highlights the importance of infrastructural safety systems like Sentry’s Collision Sentry, which uses sensors to warn of potential collisions at blind corners. These tools, he notes, function similarly to how radar alerts cyclists to approaching vehicles, enhancing awareness and preventing accidents.

Ultimately, Ryan underscores that workplace safety is not just a regulatory requirement or added cost — it’s a vital investment in people. He argues that safer environments lead to higher productivity, improved morale, and greater business resilience. Just as cyclists must remain vigilant and equipped for changing conditions, businesses must combine the right tools, training, and culture to protect their most valuable asset: their people.

Click here to listen

In recent years, we’ve taken great interest in the products brought to market by Sentry, who are expert at identifying areas of danger and coming up with seemingly simple solutions to reduce or eliminate warehouse accidents. But after many conversations with James Ryan, the founder of Sentry Protection Products, only now do I fully comprehend the design and manufacture challenges
that lie behind ‘simple’ solutions such as its Column Sentry rack protectors, and the lead time it takes to conceive, test, trial and manufacture, and then bring to market such a solution. Not to mention the various international standards to which it has to conform.

Given enough time, anyone could come up with a complicated solution to solve a problem. But real genius lies in the ability to develop a solution that is both brilliantly effective and brilliantly simple, the “why didn’t I think of that” type of product.

Read Similar

Bicycle Association addresses logistics challenges

 

Home Bargains Opens ‘Next-Generation’ Automated Warehouse

Posted on by David Priestman

UK discount retailer Home Bargains has officially opened its state-of-the-art automated distribution centre in St Helens, Merseyside, marking a significant milestone in its logistics and growth strategy.

Spanning approximately one million square feet, the facility operates 24/7 to support 300 Home Bargains stores across the UK. The centre has created around 1,000 jobs, including skilled system and engineering roles, and offers favourable shift patterns to promote a healthy work-life balance.

Strategically located off Junction 8 of the M62, the site is accessible via road, public transport, and a dedicated footway/cycleway linking it to St Helens, Warrington, and the wider Omega Business Park.

TJ Morris, the owner of Home Bargains, has invested approximately £400 million in this landmark development—a key step in the company’s ambitious growth strategy to expand the reach of Home Bargains stores across the UK.

The automation system, developed in partnership with WITRON, incorporates cutting-edge order picking technology, with up to 80% of stock picking now automated.

Construction began in April 2022, and the first store deliveries were dispatched on 5th May 2025. By the end of the ramp-up phase in August 2025, logistics capacity is projected to grow by over 57%.

Looking ahead, TJ Morris has commenced work on a second distribution centre in Doncaster, designed to mirror the St Helens facility with identical automated systems. Scheduled to open in 2028, the Doncaster site will provide capacity to deliver to a further 300+ stores, further supporting the long-term growth plans for the business.

With this significant investment in automation and infrastructure, Home Bargains is poised to enhance its supply chain efficiency and support its continued expansion across the UK.

Read Similar…

Coca-Cola HBC Adds Extra Fizz to its Partnership

Iceland Foods Opens Warehouse

Posted on by Will Priestman

Iceland Foods has opened the doors to a 500,000sq ft warehouse in Warrington which will be operated by GXO Logistics. The £100m facility will employ more than 750 people.

Located at Omega Park, the new site is Iceland’s largest warehouse to date. It will serve as a major hub for distributing products to over 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 state-of-the-art 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.

Tarsem Dhaliwal OBE, Iceland Foods chief executive (pictured right), 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 future-proof our operations for years to come. 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.”

Gavin Williams, GXO MD for the UK and Ireland (pictured left), 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.”

Read Similar…

[Podcast] Future Fulfilment: Smarter, Scalable Warehouses

Logistics Development Launches Near Huntingdon

Posted on by David Priestman

A substantial new logistics and industrial development is underway just outside Huntingdon, bringing with it over 500,000 sq ft of warehousing and distribution space — and it’s happening right on our doorstep.

Located along the A14 corridor — one of the UK’s key freight routes — the site is positioned to attract 3PLs, e-commerce players, and last-mile operators seeking strong transport links between the Midlands, London, and the East Coast ports.

The new development is just minutes from Logistics Business’ office in Huntingdon. As one of the country’s leading media hubs for logistics and supply chain news, we’ll be keeping a close eye on this project — not just as journalists, but as locals.

Huntingdonshire District Council has warned the development could have a “potentially large impact” on the surrounding area. The 1.2 million square metre-site would sit on Brookfield Farm, Ermine Street, in Great Stukeley, which is currently used as arable farmland, but the council has stipulated that height restrictions would be in place at 24 meters.

From a practical standpoint, we anticipate some short-term disruption from construction activity and a potential increase in local traffic once the site becomes operational. The A14 already carries a high volume of freight, and this development could intensify congestion during peak hours, particularly near junctions close to town.

That said, the long-term benefits for the region — including job creation, inward investment, and increased visibility for Huntingdon as a logistics hub — are likely to outweigh the short-term inconveniences.

Read Similar…

Iceland Foods Opens Warehouse

Seafrigo expands in Nordics

Posted on by David Priestman

Seafrigo, the cold chain logistics expert, specialising in food logistics has officially inaugurated its fifth warehouse in Sweden, marking a significant expansion of its operations in the Nordic region. The new 10,000-square-metre facility, located in Katrineholm, southwest of Stockholm, boasts 30,000 pallet positions and will enable Seafrigo to further enhance a range of its services in the region.

The grand opening was conducted by Seafrigo President and Founder, Eric Barbé, alongside Group CEO, Bruno Plantaz, and Chief Projects Officer, Stéphane Desseigne. They were joined by Seafrigo Nordics Directors Peter Jönsson and Magnus Mohlin, along with customers and local councillors, for a tour of the state-of-the-art facility.

Seafrigo specializes in the storage and handling of foodstuffs across four temperature zones, ranging from frozen to controlled ambient conditions. The company’s Nordic operations are headquartered in Helsingborg, a facility that opened in 2018. Across the Nordics, Seafrigo handles 3,000 specialist pallets daily and conducts 600 tonnes of blast-freezing of meat per week. The new Katrineholm site alone has the capacity to handle 100 tonnes of blast-freezing every week, reinforcing Seafrigo’s commitment to providing premium, specialist logistics solutions.

Built to the highest environmental standards, the Katrineholm facility is Miljöbyggnad Silver certified, in accordance with Sweden’s stringent environmental building certification system. Additionally, Seafrigo operates fully electric trucks in the region, eliminating the use of diesel and further reducing the company’s carbon footprint.

Seafrigo Sweden is a key player in the protein logistics sector, handling beef, pork, and poultry. The company receives daily deliveries directly from slaughterhouses, blast-freezing products from +2°C to -18°C in preparation for export. The principal export markets for Seafrigo’s frozen products include Asia and Africa. The company also provides storage for meat before distribution to Swedish retailers.

With a robust infrastructure in place, Seafrigo ensures that 80% of the Nordic region receives overnight deliveries for products destined for local distribution.

“This new development enables us to further enhance Seafrigo’s extensive service offering across the Nordics and ensures we can better serve our customers’ precise, specialist needs,” said Managing Director Peter Jönsson. “Located close to major retailers’ national distribution centres, we can meet and exceed their requirements while maintaining our commitment to sustainability.”

Read Similar…

​DHL eCommerce Expands UK Network with Newcastle Facility

​DHL eCommerce Expands UK Network with Newcastle Facility

Posted on by David Priestman

DHL eCommerce UK has officially launched a new 55,000 square foot facility in Newcastle as part of its expansive £482 million investment program aimed at scaling its national operations and boosting regional parcel capacity. This strategic move not only enhances the company’s ability to serve the growing demand in the North East, but also underlines its commitment to sustainability and community development.

Located at Team Valley Trading Estate, one of the North East’s most prominent business parks, the site has been carefully chosen to streamline regional logistics and improve service efficiency for both individual and business customers. With the capacity to handle up to 15,000 parcels a day, the facility is designed to significantly improve the speed and reliability of parcel delivery across Newcastle and surrounding areas.

Part of a Nationwide Growth Strategy

The Newcastle hub is the latest in a string of developments under DHL eCommerce UK’s ambitious multi-year infrastructure investment plan, which also includes the recent opening of its flagship Midlands hub in Coventry. Together, these upgrades are intended to modernize DHL’s operational footprint, reduce transit times, and enhance parcel processing capacity in response to the ongoing surge in online shopping and direct-to-door deliveries.

Stuart Hill, CEO of DHL eCommerce UK, emphasized the importance of the new Newcastle site within the company’s broader strategy. “By sustainably growing our operations, we are boosting our capacity to meet the growing demands of customers, enhancing the working environment for our valued team members, and upholding our commitment to provide excellent service for customers, both locally and internationally,” Hill said in a public statement.

Sustainability at the Forefront

Reflecting DHL’s global Go Green strategy—which targets net-zero emissions by 2050—the Newcastle site integrates a range of environmentally friendly features. The building includes energy-efficient heating and lighting systems controlled by smart sensors, ensuring that energy usage is optimized throughout the day. Additionally, the site has been fitted with 10 electric vehicle (EV) charging points, supporting DHL’s shift toward a greener delivery fleet and promoting sustainable commuting options for employees.

This eco-conscious approach is a consistent theme across DHL’s recent developments. The company is also investing heavily in electric delivery vans and digital route optimization software, all aimed at reducing carbon emissions and contributing to a more sustainable logistics industry.

Boost to Local Economy and Jobs

In addition to its logistical and environmental benefits, the new facility offers a major boost to the local economy. The site has retained the workforce from DHL’s previous local site, minimizing disruption and job losses during the transition. Furthermore, as the facility scales up, DHL anticipates creating new employment opportunities for the surrounding community, particularly in warehouse operations, vehicle maintenance, and last-mile delivery roles.

Staff at the new site will also benefit from upgraded facilities, including improved break-out areas and employee amenities designed to support wellbeing and foster a more collaborative workplace culture.

Read Similar…

CMA CGM Group to acquire 35% stake in Dry Port

[Podcast] Adapting to Industry 4.0: Intralogistics Automation

Posted on by David Priestman

In our most recent episode of Logistics Business Conversations, host Peter Macleod engages in an in-depth discussion with David Hibbett, CEO of TGW Northern Europe, focusing on the transformative role of Logistics Automation in facilitating the transition to Industry 4.0. We discuss the challenges and transformations in the logistics sector, including labor shortages, the increasing demand for flexibility and efficiency, and the importance of cost-effectiveness.

David shares his childhood dream of becoming an astronaut and how he went from the sales department to being the CEO of TGW Northern Europe. The conversation delves into how automation technologies, specifically TGW’s Live Pick system, facilitate improvements in operational flexibility, scalability, and overall efficiency, allowing users to introduce additional bots to increase pick rate or add more racking to increase scale. David emphasises the growing importance of software and algorithms in logistics, as well as the critical considerations surrounding data security in an increasingly digitalized environment, and highlights the benefits of the shared data for users of their standardised system, allowing all operators to learn from each other.

Peter MacLeod and David Hibbett TGW

From discussions around software and algorithms to data security, the episode provides a comprehensive overview of the challenges and opportunities in the evolving landscape of logistics. This episode is a much listen for all businesses that value flexibility and need to increase labour efficiency.

Click here to listen to this episode and more

[Podcast] Future Fulfilment: Smarter, Scalable Warehouses

Posted on by David Priestman

In this insightful episode of our podcast, Logistics Business Conversations, host Peter Macleod is joined by Andy Ingram, Vice President of Advanced Technology at Ocado Intelligent Automation. Together, they explore the evolution of Ocado from an online grocery retailer to a global pioneer in warehouse automation and the future of fulfilment automation.

Andy shares the remarkable story of how Ocado’s early warehouse systems—like their monorail pick-and-pack setup—were replaced through bold decisions and fast learning. From conveyor-based systems with major points of failure to today’s fully fault-tolerant, modular storage and retrieval grid powered by “naked bots,” the conversation dives deep into the transformative power of technology, simulation, and in-house innovation.

Peter Macleod and Andy Ingram, Ocado, Podcast

Key highlights include

The journey from Ocado’s early automation failures to cutting-edge proprietary tech

The development of the Ocado Storage and Retrieval System and its global rollout

Why Ocado runs its own tech and how this operational insight fuels innovation

The shift toward “lights-out” warehouses and additive manufacturing (3D printing) to create lighter, faster, more efficient robots

Insights on flexibility, scalability, and KPIs businesses should measure when adopting automation

The importance of simulation and data modeling to design high-throughput, fault-tolerant systems

How Ocado is addressing labor challenges by upskilling workers and simplifying robotic systems

A look ahead at the future of logistics automation—including exciting technologies like subassembly 3D printing

Whether you’re a logistics professional, automation enthusiast, or just curious about the future of fulfilment, this episode delivers a fascinating glimpse into what’s next for warehouse operations around the world.

Click here to listen to this episode and more

Subscribe

Get notified about New Episodes of our Podcast, New Magazine Issues and stay updated with our Weekly Newsletter.