Following a six week consultation period, JD Sports is set to shutter its distribution centre in Derby – with almost 200 jobs at risk.
The sports retailer has occupied the 514,000 sq ft site for three years, though it had signed a 20-year lease on the newly-built facility.
A spokesperson said: “We have made the difficult decision to close our Derby distribution centre and are working with all those affected to ensure they are fully supported through this challenging period.”
It is understood the decision follows a strategic review of JD Group’s global supply chain network, which explored all options available to the business.
The self-styled “King of the Trainers” has introduced in a new five-year strategy. This has four main pillars – JD brand first, complementary concepts, beyond physical retail, and people, partners and communities. The customer experience is key to this strategy.
“‘Beyond physical retail’ means placing the omnichannel customer at the heart of everything we do,” said Sherilyn Paterson, group operations director at the brand’s parent company JD Group, in an exclusive interview as part of the RetailX UK Top500.
“We continue to upscale our investment, both in our people and our digital capabilities, to drive internal operating efficiencies while improving the customer experience.”
This is not just about digital initiatives. The retailer is opening between 250 and 350 JD brand stores a year around the world, since they are “key for brand awareness and our focus on exceptional in-store experiences”.
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