Browns

Palletline member Browns Distribution is planning to move just 300 metres from its current headquarters in Stoke-on-Trent to a new £8m facility next year after experiencing rocketing demand.

The new facility will boast a 75,000 sq ft warehouse, offices spanning two stories and a new 100-space park area.

The relocation to the new site, which will create another 15 jobs, is a result of strong growth at the family firm which reports “sky rocketing” demand for palletised collections and deliveries over the past few years.

The business, which employs 106 staff and has an operating licence for a fleet of 95 trucks and 230 trailers, is having the new distribution centre built off Chemical Lane in Tunstall, Stoke-on-Trent.

MD David Brown said: “We are experiencing ongoing growth within the business. We’ve had a very successful few years and now we need to improve our infrastructure.

“Browns Distribution has been based at this site since the sixties, and we like it here, but we wanted to push the boat out with our new facility which means relocating.

“However, we were very lucky that a piece of land right next door became available at the right time, so we won’t have to move very far.

“There’s no better solution for us than moving a few metres down the road and we’re really pleased that we are able to stay in Stoke-on-Trent.”

Work to construct Browns’ new base is underway and is expected to be completed by the end of August 2022. Browns’ current Ravensdale facility, on Ladywell Road, will be sold off once the company has fully relocated.

Brown added: “We have designed every last detail of this facility to make sure we are operating as efficiently as possible.

“It will be considerably larger than our current site so we will need to grow into the building – and that’s exactly what we intend to do.

“This project has been two years in the planning so it’s really exciting to see that progress is finally being made.”

Brown, whose grandfather Albert Brown started the company in 1955 added: “We are on a mission at the moment because we’re also planning a huge investment in our IT systems and training facilities.

“We are taking things one step at a time and are confident that the business will continue to evolve. Eventually we want to become a £20m turnover business.”

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