Miniclipper Logistics has taken a 12 year lease on a warehouse in Dunstable and boosted staff numbers by 40% in response to rapid growth this year.

The firm said organic and new growth has seen its Leighton Buzzard Hibay warehouse reach full capacity this year, whilst its distribution centre in Houghton Regis, a former Boots distribution centre which it bought in December last year, has been filled by two new warehouse outsource contracts.

Miniclipper is also boosting staff numbers across its sites, up from 100 to 120 since May this year. The company plans to take on another 20 employees over the next three months, including a number of staff who will transfer to Miniclipper as part of the two new warehouse outsource contracts at the Houghton Regis site.

The 47,000 ft² Hibay warehouse, which is 11.5m to eaves, will house both racked and shelved storage for mixed pallet picks and small fulfilment. It is undergoing refurbishment ready for migration of stock next month. The warehouse will be mostly racked, with some shelved areas for small picks.

The company said enquiries for warehousing space is running at record rates. Miniclipper MD Peter Masters said: “Whilst we have experienced a couple of customers who have taken on buildings of their own once they have a critical mass of storage requirement, many more businesses are uncertain about renewing lengthy leases, and our flexible fulfilment offering fills that gap without a long term contractual commitment.

“Storage clients stay with us on average around seven years, and can grow up to 500% in volume in that time, so the new facility ensures we can grow with our clients.  Amazon suppliers are particularly interested in our low cost shelf storage fulfilment service, particularly as our network, Palletline, is an Amazon consolidation carrier,” he added.

Speaking to Motortransport.co.uk, sales director Jayne Masters said staff numbers will continue to grow this year. “Staffing levels have gone from 100 to 120 over the past three months and we will take on another 20 staff over the next three months. We are increasing staff levels by over 40% across the year. These are permanent posts for supervisors, pickers, administrative staff, a couple of extra drivers and staff we are currently TUPE-ing over at our Houghton Regis site.”

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