Yodel is building a new distribution centre in northern England as it looks to meet growing demand for online retail.
The carrier said no “final decision” had been taken on the location of the new site, which will take over the functions of the existing hub in Shaw over a five-year transition period. Yodel says it will aim to protect all existing jobs.
Yodel said growing demand for online retail had been “turbo charged” by Covid-19, while the company has won several new clients.
Mike Hancox, CEO of Yodel, commented: “As we look to Yodel’s long-term future, it is necessary to take strategic decisions which benefit the business, our people, clients and customers.
“That is why we are announcing plans for a new super hub in the North of England to take Yodel to the next phase of its growth journey. This represents an important upgrade to our current operations – creating more opportunities across the regions, whilst cementing Yodel’s position as the leading independent parcel carrier in the UK.
“We take very seriously our responsibilities to our colleagues, many of whom have been with us for a long time and who work tirelessly to deliver for our customers. We are working alongside USDAW, our recognised trade union, and will listen carefully as we look to identify a new site location. We’ll also work closely with local authorities and community leaders to make sure this process is carried out as fairly and sensitively as possible for our colleagues.
“We’re announcing this now to give our colleagues the best possible opportunity to prepare for the change. Over the next five years our priority will be to provide a fair outcome for our team and we’ll do everything we can to support colleagues through this transition.”