Wincanton has renewed its long-standing distribution contract with the Co-op for a further five years.

The two companies have worked together for more than 25 years, and Wincanton will continue to fulfil the deal from the Co-op’s depots in Lea Green, Merseyside and Cardinal, Cambridgeshire.

The operation employs 700 people and uses a fleet of 700 trucks. Wincanton makes around 130,000 journeys to around 1,000 Co-op stores around the country every year.

Wincanton said it will continue to drive for optimum efficiency within the operation.

Its chief executive Adrian Colman said: “Wincanton will deliver transformational change, utilising our continuous improvement expertise to capitalise on opportunities for further efficiencies across these operations.

“This significant contract renewal with the Co-op underlines our leadership in the UK grocery sector for supporting successful retailers in their ambitions to win market share.”

The Co-op’s head of transport Jon Paul Brown added: “Renewing our food logistics contract with Wincanton is an important part of our re-build strategy, which continues at pace.

“We remain committed to delivering the best possible service to stores and we are confident that continuing our long-term relationship with Wincanton will help this and reduce our operating costs, to support investment in our business and members going forward.”

Last week the Co-op sold 298 of its UK stores to newsagents McColl’s. The supermarket said it wanted to carry more of its own-brand products, and that the stores it was selling were too small to accommodate this.

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