Waitrose has announced it is to create 1,000 new jobs in Kent by reopening a Morrisons distribution centre.
The company said it had agreed with Morrisons to buy the vacant centre at Aylesford as well as six stores.
These are in Eastbourne in East Sussex, Hexham in Northumberland, Formby in Merseyside, Poole in Dorset, and Lymington and Portswood in Hampshire.
The centre will open in the middle of 2007 with recruitment expected to start in the new year.
Tony Solomons, Waitrose supply chain director, said: “When Aylesford is up and running it will also allow us to service our branch network more efficiently and reduce the number of food miles.”
great
just as our kent run got easier they go and bloody open the place again 
There are rumours down here in the West Country that they will also take on the old Safeway RDC at Cribbs Causeway after taking a few old Safeway stores in the area.
the number of miles food has travelled before it reaches you kitchen.
Strawberries from Kenya have done more miles than Strawberries from Kent for example.
I can’t see them getting the Safeway, Bristol, site as it is prime retail land being so close to the Cribbs Causeway complex. The rumour I heard was that the owners of the site refused to renew the lease with Safeway/Morrison, hence the enlarged operation at Yate.
And once the RDC goes, then so will the Tray Wash over the road, which will give them even more scope for developing the area for ‘retail therapy’.
Surely if Waitrose had wanted an ‘in’ in that part of the Country, then they would have gone for the old Celsius First site at Portbury
Krankee:
The rumour I heard was that the owners of the site refused to renew the lease with Safeway/Morrison, hence the enlarged operation at Yate.
I think you will find the the rumour started at Ken Morrisons desk. Just an excuse to close it. The workers at Yate are doing a great job but God help us in the run up to Christmas. I spent 11/2 hours in the road outside last week waiting for a free bay, never had a problem or a long wait at CC in the last 4 years.
The old Celsius First site at Portbury isn’t empty. Corby chilled are in there after leaving our yard last month.
Also heard through through the grapevine that Asda will be building a new mega- RDC at Severnside alongside the M49, incorporating the chilled depot at Portbury & the ambient depot at Chepstow with a traywash & recycling centre.
Perhaps Waitrose will end up at Portbury.
Chunky:
Krankee:
The rumour I heard was that the owners of the site refused to renew the lease with Safeway/Morrison, hence the enlarged operation at Yate.
I think you will find the the rumour started at Ken Morrisons desk. Just an excuse to close it. The workers at Yate are doing a great job but God help us in the run up to Christmas. I spent 11/2 hours in the road outside last week waiting for a free bay, never had a problem or a long wait at CC in the last 4 years.
thats bloody scanderlous 
and how long was you on the bay. 