One of the UK’s largest new logistics facilities has officially opened for business today (Tuesday, 31 May).
Port Salford is a unique development providing the benefits of port-centric distribution but located in the heart of the UK, just to the west of Manchester. The site offers water connectivity provided by the Manchester Ship Canal via Liverpool, rail transport via the Chat Moss line avoiding Manchester Piccadilly, and close proximity to three major motorways.
Culina Group has taken occupation of the first warehouse distribution unit, comprising 26,022 sq m (280,000 sq ft) of accommodation, including ancillary offices, service yard and parking. Its anchor client is General Mills UK & Ireland – responsible for a range of market-leading brands, including Old El Paso, Green Giant, Betty Crocker and Nature Valley. The site will act as a central hub for General Mills’ ambient brands arriving by short sea freight from Europe. The company expects to save 600,000 road haulage miles each year whilst providing a “future proof” solution to market trends.
Culina’s operation within the modern warehouse will offer co-packing and other value-enhancing services, including online visibility and systems integration along with full client support and 24/7/365 customer service functions. However, it will also provide further efficiencies to outbound journeys by consolidating loads from multiple manufacturers, meaning 9 out of 10 journeys from the site are full loads.
Mark Whitworth, CEO of Peel Ports Group said: “We are delighted to formally welcome Culina Group and General Mills to Port Salford. Their presence as market leaders will act as a catalyst to attract more logistics providers and their clients to the area. Port Salford offers significant advantages to companies exporting to the UK, especially those with goods arriving at the Port of Liverpool. An integrated supply chain, close to their end destinations, will help them ship their cargo quicker and more directly to customers in the UK’s commercial heartland of the UK.”
Thomas van Mourik, Culina Group CEO, added: “We are proud to be a leading part of this venture and we are looking at the long term with this cutting-edge facility. Port Salford really is taking a revolutionary approach to logistics in the UK and it is our great people that will make it a success. This is an exciting time for us.”
General Mills UK & Ireland Supply Chain Director, Dave Howorth said: “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.”
280 jobs will be created at the logistics centre, which is expected to be fully operational by the end of 2016.
On completion, Port Salford will comprise over 148,699 sq m (1,600,000 sq ft) of warehousing on the site which extends to 50 hectares (150 acres). Further plans are in progress for a second phase, which will bring the total site to 101 hectares (250 acres), with 370,000 sq m (4 million sq. ft.) of development opportunities, creating one of the most significant new warehouse and logistics sites in the UK.
Port Salford is an integral part of the Atlantic Gateway project being led by Peel Ports, which involves the redevelopment of the port and canal network and surrounding land between Manchester and Liverpool. Port Salford is being developed by the Peel Ports’ sister company Peel Land and Property.