Central England Co-op distribution hub in Leicester works around the clock this Christmas

Posted by rob smyth | Published: 14/12/2017

Colleagues have been working around the clock at Central England Co-operative’s distribution hub to ensure customers and members can stock up on treats and essentials this Christmas.

Over 300 workers have been working 24-7 out of three sites in Leicester to make sure that shelves are stocked with everything ranging from tubs of chocolates to greetings cards.

A total of 60,000 tubs of Celebrations, 30,000 boxes of Miniature Heroes and 10,000 packets of Irresistible Belgian Seashells have been picked, packed and shipped out to over 200 stores across 16 counties from the Society’s Food Distribution Centre, which is spread over 120,000 sq ft and is the equivalent of six Olympic swimming pools.

At the same time, colleagues in the 42,000 sq ft Chilled Distribution Centre are gearing up for their busy period – the final few days before Christmas – when they will be working round the clock to make sure people get everything from turkeys and pork pies to double cream and fruit.

Robin Farrell, Head of Distribution and Logistics at Central England Co-operative, said: “Our team of dedicated and hard-working colleagues are committed to working around the clock in the months leading up to Christmas to ensure our customers and members and enjoy a little extra special food and drink.

“That tireless effort will continue right up until Christmas Day to ensure everyone who walks into a Central England Co-operative store enjoys the festive season.”

Planning for Christmas began way back in January for all those involved with the distribution operation as items such as Prosecco need to be ordered many months in advance as it is shipped across via boat from Italy.

However, as customers and members prepare to celebrate the big day itself, distribution colleagues are already turning their thoughts to getting ready to send out Easter Eggs from Christmas Eve.

Notes to editors

Photo caption: Colleagues at Central England Co-operative’s Food Distribution Centre operation in Leicester working hard to ensure customers get everything they need in the run up to Christmas.

Sidebar: Here is a list of facts related to Central England Co-operative’s distribution hub:

• The FDC is 120,000sq ft or the equivalent of six Olympic size swimming pools
• Over 200 Central England Co-op stores, as well as other co-operatives, receive deliveries from the FDC and CDC
• Over 30 million cases of products were delivered to stores and onto shelves last year
• A total of 51 vehicles cover 2.7 million miles every single year
• 345 tonnes of cardboard are processed at the site every single month
• Every year the Society recycles 3.5 million green food trays
• The Society’s distribution hub operates 24 hours a day, 364 days a year
• On average, the distribution hub shifts close to 150,000 tubs of chocolates at Christmas and 80,000 cases of chocolate eggs at Easter
• In the CDC, the summer months will see workers pick through 42,000 pork pies, 135,000 punnets of strawberries and 320,000 bags of salad

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About Central England Co-operative

Central England Co-operative is one of the largest independent retail co-operative societies in the UK. It is a modern, forward-looking organisation employing over 8,000 staff, with gross sales of £927 million in 2016/17. The Society’s principal areas of activity are food, funeral services, and property investment. Central England Co-operative has over 400 trading outlets across 16 counties including; West Midlands, Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Staffordshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Nottinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Lincolnshire, West Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Suffolk, Norfolk, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire.  The Society has an ambitious food store development programme for 2017.

Central England Co-operative is proud of its reputation for ethical business practices and corporate responsibility.  It is a member of Business in the Community, the membership organisation that stands for responsible business, and has also won many business awards for excellence.  The Society supports a number of charities including Dementia UK and invests a percentage of its trading profit into local communities.

Becoming a member of Central England Co-operative offers a whole host of benefits ranging from collecting points every time you spend in store to earn a share of the profits, access to members activities and community initiatives including the Community Dividend Fund, which hands out grants of up to £5,000 to charities and good causes across the Society’s trading estate.

Find out how to become a Central England Co-operative member by calling 0800 0501 601, emailing members@centralengland.coop or visiting https://www.members.coop

For more information visit www.centralengland.coop, follow Central England Co-operative on Twitter: @mycoopfood, and on Facebook: facebook.com/centralenglandcooperative

Rob Smyth / Heather Clapton at Central England Co-operative on 01543 414140

Email –publicrelations@centralengland.coop