Culina plans to open a chilled distribution centre in Bristol after winning new and extended contracts with major food brands.

The proposed 210,000ft² DC is expected to open in the second quarter of 2013 and will replace its current Cabot Park warehouse, which is located on an adjacent site.

The new warehouse will double the operator’s storage capacity in the South West, adding around 10,000 chilled pallet spaces.

Culina hopes to operate 20 contracts out of the new DC, including its contracts with dairy, juice, packed meat and other food producers which are currently ran out of the Cabot Park site.

It will contain storage for chilled pallets exclusively, but will also include cross-docking facilities for ambient loads using 25 dock level loading doors and four level access doors.

Chief operating officer Steve Winwood said: “The business has matured and now is the right time for us to invest in this new development which will help us to offer customers an even bigger and better service.”