UK retailer Marks & Spencer (M&S) has invested £340 million in a new distribution facility, as it aims to double the size of its M&S Food business.
The £340 million investment will allow for the construction of a 1.3 million sq ft facility in Northamptonshire. M&S said it was set to open in 2029, and it will be based at Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal.
The new automated National Distribution Centre (NDC) will feature “advanced automation”, aiming to enhance operational efficiency while improving product availability.
M&S said its five-year phased investment was its “largest ever”, and would create 420 bigger M&S Food stores and a more productive group of 180 full line stores, with half the estate expected to be in renewal format by 2027/28.
Centre creates job opportunities
The NDC will also reportedly create 2,000 jobs, with around 1,000 permanent roles once the site is fully operational, covering driving, logistics, management and technical roles such as automation technicians.
Alex Freudmann, managing director at M&S Food, stated: “We’re transforming M&S into a destination for the weekly shop and modernising our supply chain is central to that ambition.
“This investment will boost capacity for future growth, lower our cost to serve over the long-term, and improve product availability – ensuring customers find the right products in the right place at the right time.
“Our new site will strengthen our network and help us get ahead of the volume curve as we build a bigger, better Food business. By using the latest, proven automation, we are future-proofing both our business and UK retail logistics, as well as creating 1,000 jobs permanently on site and 2,000 during the construction phase.”
Automation will be a key focus of the new site, and its responsibly sourced and recycled building materials, a rainwater harvesting system and EV vehicle chargers will all make up part of the M&S sustainability plan.
