Discount supermarket chain Aldi has laid out plans for two more regional DCs as it continues to increase its presence in the UK.

It is seeking permission to develop both a 58,634m² RDC in Sawley, Leicestershire, and a 62,427m² site on the Isle of Sheppey, Kent. This follows approval for a similar RDC in Cardiff last autumn.

Each of the two proposed sites will provide ambient, chilled and frozen storage and are expected to serve between 100-120 supermarkets in their respective catchment areas.

The Sawley Crossroads RDC will have 78 loading docks in total, while the Queensborough, Kent, warehouse will have 94 docks. Both sites will serve as regional offices and will have facilities for refuelling, maintaining and washing vehicles.

Aldi intends to create 400 jobs at each of the sites if permission is granted.

Of the Sawley RDC plans, an Aldi spokesman said: “This is major investment for Aldi. The distribution requirements of the business need to keep pace with the growth of our retail outlets, and we therefore have an urgent need to deliver a new centre to serve our Midlands region.  The site at Sawley is ideally placed to do this.”

The spokesman confirmed to Motortransport.co.uk that Aldi intends to operate its own vehicles out of the sites, rather than use a third-party, but it does not currently know how many trucks will be required.

If its application is successful, the company hopes the Sawley site will be up and running in early 2017.

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