Food logistics supplier NFT Distribution is to open a new distribution centre at the Port of Tilbury to serve importers.

The 230,000ft² multi-temperature site should be opened in late 2015 and will be able to store 25,000 pallets with a throughput of over 2.5m cases a week, said the firm.

The new DC is expected to create around 500 jobs.

“NFT’s national coverage through strategically placed regional depots is second to none,” said NFT chief executive, David Frankish. “We already have a major presence in the ‘Golden Triangle’ area of the Midlands, and by locating in the south-east we can streamline retail and manufacturing customers’ supply chains further, providing substantial savings in the costs of distribution, inventory and food wastage while helping to boost consumer sales.”