Two European retailers, Pets at Home and Rewe, are planning new comprehensive distribution centres.
Stoford Developments, which is leasing Pets at Home’s new 670,000 square foot Staffordshire warehouse, has begun a public consultation with local residents and stakeholders.
The consultation will inform Pets at Home’s proposals to Stafford Borough Council in September, ideally allowing construction on the site to start in 2021.
Pets At Home signed the conditional agreement last month, with completion expected in 2022. It plans for the new warehouse to offer a single comprehensive site for omnichannel fulfilment.
According to Stoford, plans include a new roundabout and a development access road to serve the warehouse unit.
Pets At Home saw total group revenues fall 1% in the first quarter of its financial year (beginning 28 February). The first eight weeks of lockdown saw like-for-like revenues fall 13.5% year-on-year while the subsequent eight weeks saw growth of 12%.
Meanwhile, German supermarket chain Rewe has opened a new 135,000 square metre site in Kronau, Baden, in south Germany.
The €100 million project will employ around 600 workers and ship over 60 million shipping units. It will supply stores in the regions south of Darmstadt
The site is designed to meet new sustainability standards, with the entire energy supply provided by a photovoltaic system with connections for electric cars.
