New 200,000 sq ft distribution centre in the Port of Southampton

Xpediator (AIM: XPD), is pleased to announce that its subsidiary, Import Services Limited, the Southampton based port-centric logistics company, has signed a 20-year lease with Associated British Ports for a new 200,000 sq ft distribution centre at Southampton’s Container Port. The opening of this new facility will take our UK warehousing capability to approximately 700,000 sq ft.

Associated British Ports has begun development of the new distribution centre and it is expected to complete in Q1 2021.

The new warehouse site is designed to connect with Import Services’ existing quayside distribution centre, doubling Import Services’ operational capacity. Together, the enlarged facilities will enable Import Services to hold stock under bond for order processing and distribution across the UK, continental Europe and global markets.

With 24 new access doors, VNA pallet storage configuration plus state of the art equipment and systems, the new warehouse is designed to boost throughput for containers and road vehicles, providing swift passage to market and alleviating the need to transport containers inland to distributions centres which will reduce time, cost and carbon from retail supply chain services.

Stephen Blyth, CEO of Xpediator, said

“Import Services’ new distribution centre will be just 100 metres away from where the deep sea container ships dock and with this new facility, our teams will be able to discharge containers efficiently, process orders and deliver straight to the point of demand.

Historically, Import Services has not always had the capacity to meet demand, this new facility will not only enable us to meet demand but also capture additional market share by being able to offer superior port-centric logistics services. The timing of this expansion could also work favourably with the UK’s move outside of the European Union.”

ABP’s Head of Commercial and Property Clive Thomas said

“We are pleased to work with Import Services on this investment to expand their operations on the port. Following the previous successful expansion in 2015, we are delighted to continue our long-standing relationship with them and to ensure that our port-centric logistics operations are environmentally conscious and a highly effective and efficient part of the retail logistics supply chain.”