Headlam Group plc
('Headlam' or 'the Company')
Construction starts at new distribution centre in Ipswich
Sod-cutting ceremony marking official start of construction
Headlam, Europe's leading distributor of floorcoverings, is delighted to announce that the sod-cutting ceremony for its new regional distribution centre in Harris Way, Ipswich, is taking place today, 26 July 2019, heralding the start of the construction phase of the project.
The 190,000 square feet distribution centre, which will rehome the long-established Faithfulls and Garrods businesses located in nearby Hadleigh and support Headlam's customers throughout the South East of England, is expected to cost in the region of £26 million and be operational for Easter 2020.
With an eaves height of almost 56 feet and 10.6 million cubic feet of capacity, the state-of-the-art facility and substantial new warehousing will provide Faithfulls and the smaller Garrods with much increased capacity to support their customers and growth while also providing support to the wider Headlam network.
In addition to improving service levels to Headlam's customers throughout the South East of England, the distribution centre is also expected to create a significant number of additional jobs in the local area. Faithfulls and Garrods currently employ over 100 people, including those located at additional trade counter sites in Walthamstow and Dartford.
Faithfulls, which has been based in Hadleigh since 1955, has become a leading flooring distributor in the South East through its long-standing focus on customer service supplying extensive product ranges in both the residential and contract sectors with next day delivery.
The project managers on the build are RGC Commercial Limited, an independent quantity surveying/project management practice based in the West Midlands with extensive industrial and logistic distribution experience. RGC are committed to ensuring the timely and successful delivery of this key distribution centre.
The construction is being undertaken by main contractor Readie Construction, a leading specialist in the industrial, logistic and retail sectors based in Romford, Essex. Readie has a long track-record of adhering to the best practice standards of construction, utilising innovative design and energy efficient products. Headlam and Readie are working closely together to ensure that the distribution centre, which is being built on a brownfield site, is as energy efficient as possible.
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Notes for Editors:
Operating for 26 years and employing over 2,600 people, Headlam is Europe's leading distributor of floorcoverings.
Headlam provides the distribution channel between suppliers and trade customers of floorcoverings. Working in partnership with suppliers from 22 countries manufacturing a diverse range of floorcovering products and ancillary accessories, Headlam provides an unparalleled route to market for their products across the UK and certain Continental European territories.
The utilisation of an outsourced distribution channel enables manufacturers to focus on their core activities, incur reduced costs associated with distribution, and benefit from localised sales, marketing and distribution expertise that provides a more effective and greater route to market for their products.
To maximize customer and market penetration, Headlam comprises 65 individual businesses in the UK and Continental Europe (France, the Netherlands and Switzerland) each operating under their own unique trade brand and utilising individual sales teams.
Headlam's extensive customer base, operating within both the residential and commercial sectors and comprising principally independent retailers and flooring contractors, receives the broadest product offering supported by next day delivery as well as additional marketing and other support.
Headlam's offering is enabled through its unrivalled operating expertise, long-established supplier and customer relationships, and comprehensive distribution network. Following years of considerable investment, Headlam's distribution network currently comprises four national distribution hubs, 19 regional distribution centres and a supporting network of smaller warehouse premises, trade counters, showrooms and specification centres.
In 2018, Headlam worked with 199 suppliers and fulfilled over 5.3 million customer orders.
www.headlam.com
