Waitrose notches up a first as grocery retailer preps 360,000 sq ft DC in south west of England

Waitrose has announced a multi-million investment in a 360,000 sq ft distribution centre at Mountpark’s Bristol360 in the south west of England.

The site, which will be the retailer’s first distribution centre in the region, will open towards the end of 2026, making deliveries to around 50 of its existing stores, with the capacity to support new locations.

Waitrose is working on plans to open new convenience and full line stores throughout the UK.  Last month, the retailer announced that a store will be built at Brabazon in north Bristol, which is expected to open in 2027, and later this year a new convenience store will open in The Arches, Bristol.  

Mountpark’s Bristol 360 has various energy efficient and sustainable features, including over 1,200 solar panels. Waitrose estimates that the south west site will enable it to reduce annual mileage within its supply chain by 2,225 tonnes of CO2 per year, helping it meet its target of being net zero carbon by 2035 and fossil fuel free by 2030.  

Alison Maffin, Waitrose’s Supply Chain Director, says: “This multi-million pound investment is an important step in modernising our supply chain and setting us up to build the capacity needed for our growth plans. It will enable us to better serve our customers in the region, more efficiently supply our existing shops and reduce our operating costs and carbon emissions. The modern and sustainable features of Mountpark’s Bristol 360 make it an excellent fit for our business."

Bart Holt-Smith, Director, Capital Markets and Development for Mountpark, says: “Waitrose’s commitment to Mountpark Bristol 360 is a strong endorsement of our ability to meet the demands of modern logistics from commercial performance to environmental responsibility.”

“We’re proud to be working with a brand of Waitrose’s calibre and delighted that our shared commitment to sustainability and quality aligns so closely. We look forward to welcoming this iconic British retailer and supporting its continued success in the region.”

Waitrose will now select a logistics supplier to run the site on its behalf. It currently uses four regional distribution sites across the UK (Aylesford, Bracknell, Brinklow and Leyland) to fulfill shop orders, and three national distribution centres in Milton Keynes, Greenford in London, and Reading. It also has two fulfilment centres in Greater London - Greenford and Coulsdon from where it delivers online customer orders.

2025 RTIH INNOVATION AWARDS

Supply chain technology will be a key focus area at the 2025 RTIH Innovation Awards.

The awards, which are now open for entries, celebrate global tech innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world.

Our 2024 hall of fame entrants were revealed during an event which took place at RIBA’s 66 Portland Place HQ in Central London on 21st November, and consisted of a drinks reception, three course meal, and awards ceremony presided over by comedian Lucy Porter.

In his welcome speech, Scott Thompson, Founder and Editor, RTIH, said: “The event is now into its sixth year and what a journey it has been. The awards started life as an online only affair during the Covid outbreak, before launching as a small scale in real life event and growing year on year to the point where we’re now selling out this fine, historic venue.”

He added: “Congratulations to all of our finalists. Many submissions did not make it through to the final stage, and getting to this point is no mean feat. Checkout-free stores, automated supply chains, immersive experiences, on-demand delivery, next generation loyalty offerings, inclusive retail, green technology. We’ve got all the cool stuff covered this evening.”

“But just importantly we’ve got lots of great examples of companies taking innovative tech and making it usable in everyday operations - resulting in more efficiency and profitability in all areas.”

Congratulations to our 2024 winners, and a big thank you to our sponsors, judging panel, the legend that is Lucy Porter, and all those who attended November's gathering. 

For further information on the 2025 RTIH Innovation Awards, please fill in the below form and we will get back to you asap.