Waitrose plans to create approximately 550 jobs for a new distribution center in Bristol opening in early 2027. The upmarket grocer aims to boost delivery efficiency across south-west England and support future expansion in the region.
The warehouse in Avonmouth will employ 480 warehouse staff and 80 drivers. Logistics firm DHL will run the facility and manage recruitment starting this spring.
The move marks a strategic shift for Waitrose, which will open a full-size supermarket in north Bristol next year - its first in seven years. The retailer has focused on convenience and smaller franchise stores in recent years.
Sustainable expansion
The new distribution center represents Waitrose's most sustainable warehouse to date. The building features 1,200 solar panels on the roof and energy-efficient systems.
The facility will serve Waitrose's 50 existing shops in south-west England and enable further growth in the area. The John Lewis Partnership-owned retailer operates 317 shops nationwide.
Market performance
Waitrose has grown its UK grocery market share to 4.7 percent. Average shopper spending per trip rose by 6.5 percent in the 12 weeks to December 28 compared to the same period a year earlier, according to research firm Worldpanel by Numerator.
The company has committed £1 billion over several years to brand growth and improving its stores. The investment includes spending on artificial intelligence and automation to reduce manual supply chain processes and identify customer behavior patterns influenced by sports, weather and promotions.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).