The UK’s fourth largest food retailer Morrisons is set to open a20,000 sq ft distribution centre located on Academy Business Parkin Knowsley, owned by South Manchester landlord OrbitDevelopments.
Morrisons have taken a 15 year lease and are set to open inNovember this year. When fully operational, Morrisons plan tocreate circa 200 jobs with around 54 vans servicing the Merseysideand North Wales area.
The chain has well over 500 stores in its portfolio with plansfor expansion across the UK underway. The announcement will be abig boost for not only the business park but the surrounding areasand the local community.
The requirement for this distribution hub is a direct result ofthe launch of Morrisons online services which were launched at thestart of the year after a surge in demand for fast moving consumergoods. The distribution centre will service the Northwest and NorthWales with other distribution centres in Manchester, Birmingham,Warwickshire, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire and London already upand running. Ocado will operate as the delivery arm for theMorrisons brand.
Tony Jones, Managing Director of Orbit Developments commented:”We are delighted to see that Morrisons have chosen to open theirMerseyside distribution centre at Academy Business Park, which ispart of Knowsley Industrial & Business Park. This will now leadto the redevelopment of the business park at Knowsley which willsee a speculative new build of 100,000 sq ft distribution unit. Thescheme will eventually consist of 260,000 sq ft of new buildindustrial units”.
He went onto say: “Knowsley council representatives have beeninstrumental in making this happen”.
