General Mills UK & Ireland – responsible for a range of market-leading brands, including Old El Paso, Green Giant, Betty Crocker and Nature Valley – is to be the first tenant at a new state-of-the-art distribution hub that will save 600,000 road haulage miles each year whilst providing a 'future proof' solution to market trends.

The 280,000 sq. ft. site at Port Salford – which will be run by food and drink logistics expert Culina Group – will act as a central hub for General Mills’ ambient brands arriving by short sea freight from Europe.

Located adjacent to the Manchester Ship Canal and next to the arterial motorway routes of the M60 and M62, Port Salford would improve General Mills’ supply chain, explained General Mills UK & Ireland Supply Chain Director Dave Howorth, as well as giving the company future opportunities to move freight by rail.

He added: 'We are very excited about this new distribution agreement as it reinforces our commitment as a company to finding solutions that are best for customers, consumers and the environment, and our move to Port Salford ticks all those boxes.'

Howorth said the move – set for April 2016 – would enable a demand driven logistics solution with load efficient multi-supplier consolidated deliveries to large retail customers 364 days a year, while the facility will be equipped with built for purpose co-packing capabilities enabling 'close to demand' pack format differentiation to meet the growing demands for 'right pack/right channel'.

Thomas Van Mourik, CEO of Culina Group, said: 'We are absolutely delighted that General Mills, one of our long standing, world class customers, will be housed at our unique and game-changing logistics facility. Port Salford is a fantastic strategic development for Culina Group and the strength of the proposition is underscored by the fact that such an important customer is fully committed to the project, even at this very early stage.'

Mark Whitworth, CEO of Peel Ports Group, said:  'This excellent news is a clear endorsement of the benefits to the UK supply chain that we envisaged when developing Port Salford and such investments are helping the North West to transform the UK logistics infrastructure. As well as excellent road and rail links, the area will soon be able to offer the unique route of the Manchester Ship Canal, connected directly to our new Liverpoool2 container terminal, enabling companies to get closer to their markets.

Source: PeelPorts