DX opens parcel sorting and distribution centre to cater for expanding online retail market
DX Group, the UK’s largest independent logistics network operator, has opened a state-of-the-art parcel sorting and distribution centre in Warrington to meet demand from the fast-growing online retail sector for secure delivery services.
The 28,000 sq ft building in Lyncastle Road, Barley Castle Trading Estate, which was officially opened on 20th January, can sort up to 4,000 parcels an hour. It has benefitted from a £120,000 investment in sorting mechanisms to ensure optimum operating times and has replaced two much smaller DX service centres in North Wales and Manchester.
The new centre will dramatically increase capacity for DX’s nationwide, next-day secure delivery service for local and national e-tailers and retailers across the North of England, including household names such as Asda and Cloggs who are already benefiting from DX’s high performing home delivery services.
Deliveries will be made via DX Secure – a unique service that combines flexibility with high levels of security, accountability and customer service. DX Secure provides proof of delivery, a 100 per cent audit trail, where required, and varying levels of insurance.
The new centre will help to establish DX as a key player in the online retail delivery sector where British shoppers spent £31.5 billion online in the first half of 2011. Demand for such services continues to rise, with statistics from Experian Hitwise’s analysis suggesting that the Boxing Day sales were the country’s biggest ever day for internet retailing. Consumers paid some 96 million visits to UK e-tail sites on 26th December 2011, spending a collective 13 million hours online. That is 19.5% more than on the same day last year, when 80.5 million visits took place.
Such increases have been clearly reflected within DX. For example, in the run up to Christmas last year, the company handled 100% more online retail delivery business per day than in the same period in 2010.
The Warrington centre will also offer a range of B2C and B2B services (DX Document Exchange, Courier and Mail) to customers in Merseyside, North Wales, Chester and Warrington. It will employ more than 100 staff, the majority of whom have been transferred from the former North Wales and Manchester sites. However, 14 new sorting and supervisory roles have also been created.
To mark the official opening of the centre on 20th January, a ribbon was cut by Gary Woods, Managing Director of the UK’s leading multi-redemption voucher and prepaid gift card business – Park Retail, which is a longstanding DX customer.
Gary said: “Fast, secure and reliable product deliveries are essential for the smooth running and reputation of businesses like ours, and we simply cannot operate efficiently without them. I am very pleased to open this impressive new centre in Warrington on behalf of DX and I am sure it will play a vital role in helping companies to capitalise on the exciting growth within the online retail sector.”
Petar Cvetkovic, Chief Executive of DX, said: “We are delighted to officially open this state-of-the-art parcel sorting and distribution facility in Warrington, which has been created to meet demand from the fast-growing online retail sector. Our excellent track record has already prompted many companies to turn to DX for help in providing the highest levels of customer service in this area; hence we experienced a 100 per cent increase in online retail delivery business in the run up to Christmas in 2011.
“The new facilities in Warrington will make DX a force to be reckoned with in the online retail delivery market, where we could not be better placed to help companies ensure the highest possible levels of security, reliability and customer service.”
For further information visit: www.thedx.co.uk
Published: 20/01/2012
