Retailers in the south-east of England can access international products and core convenience lines at competitive pricing following the opening of a new cash and carry.

The facility in Southend began trading in November, following the closure of the firm’s previous depot in Barking, east London. Chetan’s previous site had operated in the area for more than 40 years. 

Commenting on the service available for retailers in the area, Jay Mandalia, part of the firm’s senior management team, told Better Retailing: “We’ve got about 1,600 lines at the moment as we’re still filling up to capacity, but the depot will have between 3,500- to-4,000 lines when full. 

“We’re bringing the same diverse range we had in London, which retailers in the area had previously been unable to access. Alongside core convenience lines, we’ve got Eastern European alcohol, refuse bags and we’ll be introducing Asian groceries. Customers appreciate that we’re focused on retail. 

“About 30% of our customer base is in the area. We’re also getting a lot of new customers and many of these are village shops. Many are impressed by our product range and choose to become repeat customers. 

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“The brand is very strong and has been around for more than 40 years. We give a more local service and we’re still communicating with the older customers who make an effort to visit us.” 

Mandalia added that the new depot marked the start of potential expansion for Chetan, with the firm seeking further locations where there is a “gap in the market”. 

Founder Bipin Mandalia claimed the site is state of the art, due to it being the “UK’s flagship depot for net zero”. 

This means the depot operates on solar panels, has energy-efficient chillers for dairy products and electric vehicle charging for retailers who visit with electric or hybrid vehicles. 

The cash and carry also has a system to filter and provide cleaner air to customers. Digital screens will ensure customers see the latest promotions and products from Chetan and its partnered suppliers. 

Bipin added: “One of the reasons we moved from London was the growing competitive environment and costs associated with the congestion charge for vehicles. The new site means we no longer have to pay those fees and we can pass the cost savings on to our customers.” 

The firm will also operate a delivered service from the site using electric vehicles, allowing it to cover more regions and reach areas larger lorries had previously been unable to access. 

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