Yearsley Logistics opens northern superhub

Yearsley Logistics has completed the first phase of its new £20m northern ‘superhub’ in Heywood, Greater Manchester.

The new 13.6-acre cold, which will be constructed in three phases, will double the chilled distribution specialist’s pallet capacity from 40,000 to 80,000 units per night.

Harry Yearsley, MD at the Lancashire firm, said the north-west site was strategically chosen to fulfil its contract as preferred UK supplier of frozen logistics to global bakery supplier CSM, which it secured last year.

He added: “Our existing Heywood store was running close to capacity and this expansion will amount to a £20m investment in facilities for our customers and also secures jobs for our employees. It is part of our long-term strategy to consolidate stock in strategically located stores.”

The shell of phase two is already underway and will be fitted out over the next six months, being fully operational during 2014. Phase three will be completed according to customer demand.

Yearsley will be installing its first PAS system at the site, with half of the cold store fitted with an automated racking system, which the company says will speed up customer ordering processes and improve productivity. The building will also be super insulated, include rainwater harvesting, photovoltaic solar panels and LED lighting, as part of its target to reduce electricity usage by 8% by 2015.

The company opened a Midlands superhub in Hams Hall, Coleshill in March, with planning also approved for an additional cold store to be built in Peterborough.