FDC's new site at Walton Summit LR

Lancashire-based family firm FDC Holdings has established a northern hub for The Pallet Network (TPN) that will handle around 1,000 pallets a night at a new site in Walton Summit, near Preston.

Peter Allen, MD of FDC, which has been a member of the pallet network for 15 years, said that around 100,000ft² at the new 306,000ft² site it acquired in February (pictured) would be set aside for TPN operations. It will handle goods originating in the north of England, North Wales and Scotland for the network.

Nine new jobs have been created there, with a further 40 staff transferring from FDC’s previous HQ at Chorley, which remains open. Eleven further new jobs are likely to be created at the new site by the end of 2015, she added.

The Walton Summit hub will complement TPN’s central hub in Sutton Coldfield, which currently handles around 13,000 pallets a night.

TPN MD Mark Duggan told Motortransport.co.uk the new northern hub would alleviate pressure on the Sutton Coldfield site, allowing for further growth with a focus on quality, rather than quantity.

“The improvement in trunk timings enhances service delivery targets against the backdrop of increased volumes, therefore enabling our overriding goal of excellent service delivery for our members’ customers,” he said. “There are also environmental and cost-saving benefits as the trunking stem mileage is reduced for pallets routed via the northern hub.

“We are delighted to partner with our longstanding member FDC with the new hub operation and they deserve full credit for an excellent operation,” added Duggan.

Since opening the new Walton Summit site, FDC Holdings has also established a third, 110,000ft² site in Leyland.

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