German supermarket Lidl has opened its largest warehouse in the world, in Bedfordshire.
The regional distribution centre (RDC) in Luton will service 150 stores and create up to 1,500 jobs – almost triple that of any other warehouse run by the German discounter. The 1.2 million square foot site can fit three of Lidl’s existing warehouses inside, Telegraph reported.
The RDC will help it handle more than 9,400 pallets of goods each day, bound for its 150 stores. Its existing distribution centres service approximately 60-80 stores. All of its delivery fleet will be fuelled by biogas made from food waste.
The company said it would be the first Lidl GB warehouse to feature automation, "helping to store more goods and increase capacity at the distribution centre, which in turn is helping to create more jobs".
Lidl’s chief development officer Richard Taylor said, “The fact that Lidl’s largest RDC in the world is here in Great Britain speaks for itself not only in terms of us needing to meet the growing demand from customers, but also in terms of our ambition to grow that demand in the future.”
Welcoming the news, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said that it’s fantastic to see Lidl investing in the UK and creating thousands more well-paid jobs.
"It's fantastic to see Lidl investing in the UK and creating thousands more well-paid jobs... businesses can be confident that investing in the UK is the right decision," he said.
Lidl opened more than 50 new stores last year – more than any other supermarket in Great Britain – and opened a further 19 stores at the beginning of 2023.
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