Britain’s biggest trade supplier of tools and building materials has confirmed it is leasing a second warehouse on a West Midlands logistics park — taking its occupation to more than three-quarters-of-a-million square feet.
Screwfix — which describes itself as a “multi-channel supplier of trade tools, plumbing and electrical goods, bathrooms and kitchens” — already occupies a 545,000 sq ft distribution centre at Prologis Park Stafford. It recently extended that lease for another ten years.
Now Screwfix has agreed to expand its presence at the Stafford park, next to Junction 14 of the M6 motorway, by leasing an additional 230,500 sq ft to support the growth of its nationwide network of trade counters.
“Prologis Park Stafford has proved to be an ideal location for our distribution network,” explained Lindsay Haselhurst, supply chain and operations director at Screwfix. “This new building increases our capacity to deliver goods to both tradesmen and do-it-yourself enthusiasts across the U.K.
“We already employ over 2,500 staff at both Prologis Park and our distribution centre at Trentham. This recent acquisition will create a further 140 new jobs in the first year and will reinforce our relationship with the area,” he added. Last year his company opened 60 new stores across Britain and plans to do the same during 2015.
Wincanton, the company’s supply chain partner, was equally supportive of the West Midlands expansion. “We are extremely proud of our long-standing partnership with Screwfix and excited by the opportunity to support the next stage of their growth strategy,” commented the logistics provider’s managing director for ecommerce and retail, Liam McElroy.
The latest deal now means that Prologis Park Stafford is fully let with Prologis managing director, Andrew Griffiths, admitting there is a strong demand for “big huts” in the region. “There are shortages of both logistics buildings and industrial employment land in the West Midlands,” he added, “so we are very pleased that that we could offer Screwfix a building so close to its existing facility.”
With its headquarters in Yeovil, Somerset, Screwfix was launched in 1979 as the Woodscrew Supply Company. It was acquired two decades later by Kingfisher plc, which also owns B&Q, opening its 200th Screwfix store at Heathrow Airport in 2012.
