Palletforce Invests Additional £20m in SuperHub
Palletforce, the UK’s leading palletised distribution network, has announced further investment in its business with plans to open a new “SuperHub” at its Staffordshire headquarters.
When complete, the 620,000 sq ft development will be the biggest of its kind in Europe, capable of processing in excess of 30,000 pallets per night for distribution across the UK and the continent.
Currently Palletforce runs its award-winning 24-hour logistics operation from a 380,000 sq ft distribution centre at Burton upon Trent, which was built in 2009.
A second 240,000 sq ft facility will be built on an adjacent 38-acre site, and is expected to go online in early 2017, taking the company’s total investment in its national distribution hub to £50 million. The move sees the first major project from new owners EmergeVest as part of their pledge to invest in the future growth and success of the Palletforce network.
The announcement was made at the inaugural General Meeting of Palletforce’s 88 member companies, held at the Hilton St George’s Park in Burton last week.
Chief executive officer Michael Conroy told members the SuperHub would ensure capacity for the next 10-15 years, and was a cornerstone of the company’s growth strategy.
“Palletforce is celebrating its 15th anniversary in 2016 and we have come a long way in a very short space of time,” he said. “The SuperHub is testament to our long-term investment in the business.
“The Palletforce brand is already synonymous with quality; we will continue to invest further in both our members and our network to make Palletforce a super-brand.”
Palletforce has experienced significant growth across the UK and Europe and in 2015 was crowned “Logistics Supplier of the Year” at the prestigious Grocer Gold Awards.
Last week’s General Meeting was the first since the company’s shareholding was taken over by global investment firm EmergeVest in a £30m acquisition last year.
EmergeVest has a particular interest in the supply chain, logistics and transportation sectors, especially in the UK and Asia. It owns UK-based chilled food distributors NFT Distribution, and has interests in global freight forwarder Allport Cargo Services.
Chairman Heath Zarin told Palletforce members that he regards the UK logistics sector as one of the most sophisticated in the world.
“Palletforce is the leading business in the express pallet sector,” he said. “And it has the potential for so much more opportunity to grow in the UK, Europe and Asia.”
Palletforce's new Superhub will be the biggest of its kind in Europe.