Co-op has confirmed to RN that Nisa or Costcutter retailers will not receive deliveries from its new £30m distribution centre in Bedfordshire.

The regional facility in Biggleswade is the size of 10 football pitches and will be operational at the start of 2022, focusing on ambient, chilled and frozen deliveries to stores in London alongside south and south-east England.

However, a Co-op spokesperson told RN: “The depot is to support the growth of Co-op stores. Further decisions or details have not been taken.”

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Co-op supply chain and logistics director Andy Perry said: “The infrastructure and site selection will deliver greater agility, scale and efficiency and availability at existing stores while building capacity to support our store investment programme and ambitions for continued growth. 

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“The move will reduce road miles and supply chain costs while supporting new and existing stores in the south and south-east of England by having more of our products closer to our members and customers, and the communities in which they live and work.”

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