Computerised image of new Bidfood depot in Speke, Liverpool
One of the UK’s leading foodservice providers, Bidfood, has unveiled exciting plans for a new state of the art, temperature-controlled distribution centre in Liverpool. As part of another multi-million pound investment plan to further expand its local depot network, Bidfood is keen to increase its presence in the North West to cater for its growing customer base. The new distribution facility, on a five acre purpose-built site at Liverpool International Business Park in Speke, will complement Bidfood’s already highly successful depot in Manchester. Bidfood are aiming to have the new facility fully operational and stocked by the end of summer 2019, with a locally-based fleet of HGV multi temperature vehicles, bringing in a total of over 200 new job opportunities for the local community. The new site is another high quality local infrastructure investment, adding incremental capacity that will help Bidfood meet growing demand for multi-temperature deliveries from both existing and new customers in the North West of England and North Wales, including Liverpool, Warrington, Chester, Crewe and Llandudno. The site will incorporate technology to enhance service efficiency such as integrated warehouse voice picking systems, and will be fully accredited to ISO14001 environmental standards. Norman Wemyss, Chief Operating Officer at Bidfood said: “This distribution facility further signals our continued commitment to delivering local service excellence. Our ethos is to deliver great food, product innovation and excellent service to all of our customers, and importantly to support the communities in which we operate. By delivering from depots that are closer to our customers, we are much better placed to achieve this. “The addition of another significant purpose built site in the region will enable an even more flexible and efficient service to our customers, and will certainly help to reduce road miles and carbon emissions.” The new depot in Liverpool will follow on from another new build site opening in Worthing on the South Coast this summer, as well as an acquired site at Penrith which opened its doors to serve Cumbria & the Lake District earlier this year. Speaking about the various investments across their estate, Norman continued: “Bidfood is absolutely committed to, and excited about, its ongoing programme of investment within its nationwide infrastructure, and to providing excellent service to its fast growing customer base.” Bidfood has opened five new multi-temperature sites across the UK in the last five years as part of its aim to offer a truly local service.