Norbert Dentressangle will open a new DC in Taunton, Somerset, at the end of this month, granting it greater access to the South West.

The Taunton site will act as a regional hub for its two-man delivery Specialist Services division.

The operator is spending £150,000 in refurbishing a 160,000 ft² warehouse, located on the 1.5-acre site on the Crown Industrial Estate.

The DC will handle high value or bulky items, such as catering, vending and telecommunications equipment mainly through cross-docking, but there will be some space for block stack storage.

Mike Bridges, MD at Norbert Dentressangle Transport Services, said the new site will enable it to ensure daily movements are more efficiently handled.

He said:  “Despite the current challenging economic climate, we are committed to enhancing customer services levels by delivering operational improvements and will continue to invest in our UK infrastructure to achieve this.”

Norbert, which recently revealed a 55% increase in year-on-year turnover, will run 30 vehicles out of the shared user site, including 15 18-tonne rigids fitted with specialist equipment to restrain large items.

45 drivers, warehouse and administration staff will be based at Taunton, with hopes to create more jobs in future.

The site will also house a training centre for its two-man delivery workforce in the region.