Leeds-based Clipper Logistics is creating over 300 jobs at a new site on Teesside, following the signing of a 10-year deal last year with retailer Asda to provide deconsolidation solutions for its George clothing brand.
The Wynyard Park hub, which opened at the end of October, will be largely dedicated to import and deconsolidation work for Asda and was chosen for its proximity to Teesport.
Clipper says the hub will receive and dispatch up to three million items of clothing a week, feeding Asda’s three RDCs at Washington, Tyne & Wear, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire and Brackmills, Northamptonshire, on a just-in-time basis.
Around 70% of the space at the site, which has three levels of mezzanine flooring and offers over 840,000ft² of operational space, is dedicated to the Asda operation with the rest available on a shared user basis, says Clipper.
A spokesman for the firm told MT that of the 400 jobs on Asda work at Wynyard Park, around 90 would be filled by staff transferring from Clipper’s Darlington site with a further five being filled by staff from Leeds – the two sites that previously handled the Asda business.
Asda distribution director Ian Stansfield said the new contract was awarded to Clipper on the basis of its past performance.
“Clipper has proven itself to be an invaluable partner to our business and the success of the bespoke solutions they have created for us has brought about significant cost and efficiency savings in our operation,” he said.