Hundreds of jobs are in peril after Ocado launched plans to close its oldest distribution centre.
The on-line grocer says it’s going to close its website in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, later this yr.
The warehouse handles spherical a fifth of its purchaser orders each week and these will instead be shifted to a model new state-of-the-art automated warehouse in Luton, which is due to open this yr.
Ocado said it has started session with the 2,300 staff affected nonetheless it objectives to provide jobs to as a whole lot of them as attainable at shut by web sites, along with the one in Luton.
Ocado Group chief authorities Tim Steiner said: “As the net grocery channel grows, our new, enhanced fulfilment centres and utilized sciences will drive a step change in purchaser experience and effectivity.
“With this capability coming on-line, now’s the correct time for us to halt operations at our oldest facility at Hatfield and think about our future choices for the location.”
He added: “We need to hold as a lot of this expertise and expertise inside the enterprise as potential and anticipate to retain a big proportion of colleagues impacted by these modifications, both in our new Luton CFC (buyer fulfilment centre) or throughout our wider UK community.”
It comes merely months after Amazon revealed plans to shut three of its warehouse – a alternative affecting 1,200 jobs – nevertheless open two new major fulfilment centres.
The Amazon web sites eyed for closure are in Hemel Hempstead, Doncaster and Gourock, inside the west of Scotland.
Supply: info.sky.com”
