The Co-op Group this week officially opened a new £6m distribution centre at Inverness Airport Business Park to facilitate future store expansion in Northern Scotland.
The Dalcross Distribution Centre covers 12,000 sq ft and employs 50 people. The Group plans to open 18 new stores in Scotland by the end of 2018, with a further 20 to be revamped as part of a £28m expansion and renovation plan. This will take total store numbers to 365 and the number of Group employees to almost 6,000.
The facility will be serviced by double-decker vehicles, which will result in fewer journeys, reduce CO2 emissions and eliminate 1,800 road miles per day.
Logistics director Andy Perry said: “We’re thrilled to be able to launch our new site at Dalcross – it’s a modern and future-proofed facility, which is perfectly placed to support the Co-op’s ever-growing operations in Scotland.
“Our significant investment in a new distribution centre is also a symbol of our absolute commitment to serving communities in the north of Scotland, as well as a strong indicator of how well our food business is performing in this area.
“We have ambitious plans to continue to open new stores and Dalcross will ensure we can continue to serve our members and customers in the Highlands and Islands for years to come.”
James Campbell, chair of Inverness Airport Business Park, said: “Inverness Airport Business Park is delighted to welcome its first occupier to the phase one site and it will be brilliant to see the Co-op operating from their new address at 1 Vallance Road.
Related: More news from the Co-operative Group here
“The speed at which this development has progressed has been hugely impressive, with the Co-op’s project team only arriving onsite in October 2017. Plot 2/1 has gone through a major transformation in a very short space of time and it’s testament to the Co-op and their contractors for the excellent job that has been done in developing this new 12,000 sq ft distribution centre.
“The delivery of the strategic infrastructure at phase one is now complete and we have serviced land immediately available for development. We hope to be in a position to make further announcements on new-build developments at IABP in the near future and look forward to welcoming new occupiers to join the Co-op at the phase one site.”
