Morrisons has confirmed plans to close the transport operation at its Swan Valley DC in Northampton, bringing in third parties to handle deliveries from the site.

The supermarket held an O-licence to run 90 vehicles and 165 trailers out of the site on the Swan Valley industrial estate.

A spokesman for the supermarket was unable to confirm how many staff have been affected as a consultation period is still ongoing, but said it will try to find them alternative positions within other areas of the business with “some prospect of transferring to other companies”.

He did not name which operator had taken over the transport from the site.

“We have proposed some changes to our logistics operation to improve the efficiency of our business and reduce road miles. As a result of this we have regrettably proposed to close the transport function at our Swan Valley site in Northampton,” the spokesman said.

He was unable to confirm whether there are plans to close its transport operations in other areas, but the supermarket recently opened the 350th authorised testing facility at its own-account operation in Bridgwater, Somerset.

In June, Morrisons extended its convenience store contract with Wincanton to handle distribution to its ‘M Local’ stores, after it awarded a multi-million pound contract to develop and run a new London DC for the supermarket.

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