DP World is gearing up to handle record volumes of vinyl on the eve of Record Store Day as demand for the music format continues to surge.
Its Bicester warehouse is the country’s largest distribution depot for physical music and the multinational logistics firm expects to see more than 210,000 records shipped from the site, with over 230 individual releases distributed to record stores nationwide on 18 April.
During 2025, DP World handled eight million vinyl records, an increase of more than one million units year-on-year, bringing the total number shipped from Bicester to over 15 million since opening in 2023.
In Q4 2025 alone, more than seven million records, CDs and cassettes passed through its warehouse, including nearly three million vinyl records.
Across all music formats, DP World said its 270,000sq ft site distributed more than 21 million units last year.
Angela Howard, VP contract logistics, North Europe, DP World said: “Record Store Day is a moment for the music industry to celebrate the record shops we serve and the enduring popularity of vinyl and physical formats.
“At DP World’s Bicester operation, our team brings real passion and pride to supporting this moment, working alongside more than 80 autonomous picking robots to ensure hundreds of releases reach stores nationwide on time.”
Kim Bayley, ERA CE, the digital entertainment and retail association, added: “Record Store Day is the single, most important day in the calendar for independent record shops in the UK and is bigger than Christmas, so DP World is fundamental to all UK retailers getting physical products in their stores.”
