Major retailer extends partnership with logistics provider

In a move that is set to create 200 new logistics jobs over the next five years, the major DIY retailer Homebase has extended its partnership with the logistics solutions provider Unipart. The partnership deal has been extended for an unprecedented 12 years, much longer than standard agreements of this sort.

Investment in distribution centre as part of collaboration

Homebase and Unipart have worked closely together over the last nine years, resulting in this longer than usual agreement.

430,000 sq ft of warehousing space at Unipart’s Cowley distribution centre will be used as part of the collaboration, but the site will be further developed over the next year as £2.2 million is invested in increasing the capacity of the site.

Nigel Basey, Head of Distribution for Homebase, said: “When we started working with Unipart we were looking for a logistics supplier, but over time that has become a true partnership.

“The team at Cowley care as passionately as we do about getting things right first time for our customers and they work hard to understand what we are trying to achieve and deliver that creatively.

“Whilst a contract of this length is almost unique in the retail sector we are confident that it will produce an exciting and productive extension to a partnership which is already exceptionally successful.”

Industry demand for logistics space set to grow in 2011

A recent report from property consultants King Sturge has suggested that the DIY specialist is just one of many retailers looking to strengthen its supply chain network this year.

The Property Industry Predictions publication revealed that retailers accounted for 74 per cent of floor space taken up in new large-size logistics units in 2010, with industry demand for this space likely to grow in 2011.