Stanford-in-the-Vale, Oxfordshire, UK: Online supermarket group Ocado is opening a new distribution “spoke” in November this year.
Ocado expects to process 10,000 orders a week from the site, based on the White Horse Business Park in Stanford-in-the-Vale, Oxfordshire. Work to upgrade the 3,995sq meters of warehouse and office space ready for operation will begin immediately.
The distribution spoke will operate 65 vans at peak capacity, adding to Ocado’s current fleet of 770 delivery vehicles. The spoke will serve the existing delivery geography and will also take capacity from Ocado’s regional distribution sites in Weybridge and Coventry, as well as its central Hatfield base.
Ocado chief executive Tim Steiner, says: “We are fully focused on increasing our capacity to meet customer demand, and to drive further strong growth and first-class service. This new distribution spoke site, which will be our third this year when it opens in November, clearly demonstrates that.”
Ocado’s interim results for the 24 weeks ended 15 May 2011 showed that the online grocer recorded a half-year pre-tax profit for the first time with gross sales growing 20.8% to £296.7m.
