New chapter for John Lewis & Partners as it shutters Blakelands DC and invests in automation
John Lewis & Partners has called time on its Blakelands national distribution centre in MIltons Keyne. This comes as the retailer invests in automation at its Magna Park 3 facility, also in Milton Keynes.
It operates a UK logistics network of distribution and customer fulfilment centres, withs its supply chain anchored by hubs in Milton Keynes, Northampton, and other regional locations to support both John Lewis department stores and Waitrose supermarkets.
In a LinkedIn post, Sarah Payne, Head of Operations at John Lewis & Partners, said: "A new chapter in distribution. It is a bittersweet day as we formally complete the closure and final handover of the Blakelands national distribution centre. This site has been a key part of our distribution network for over 40 years, and we extend a sincere thank you to the entire Blakelands team for their incredible contributions, hard work and resilience."
She added: "While it is always sad to close a long serving building, this move marks an exciting new chapter for our network. The closure is part of a move for groundbreaking automation development, in Magna Park 3. This investment is key to future-proofing our operations and enhancing efficiency."
"Most importantly, I am incredibly pleased to share that we have successfully retained the majority of all Blakelands Partners who have secured other roles within the John Lewis distribution network. This successful transition is a testament to the professionalism and dedication of all involved, especially the impacted partners - thank you!"
Digital transformation
John Lewis is going through a major digital transformation (to the tune of £800 million), and at the heart of this move is meeting the customer where they are at.
The retailer's products will be served to customers looking for inspiration on AI platforms like Google Gemini and ChatGPT, starting later this year. John Lewis has extended its partnership with commercetools, a digital commerce platform, to utilise its new AI capabilities.
It has also launched on TikTok Shop. Initially a 90-day pilot timed to help with Mother’s Day gifting, the trial focuses on a curated edit of beauty and gifting items, instantly shoppable through the platform. This includes a final drop of its Mother’s Day Beauty Box, featuring a collection of beauty products from brands including Jo Malone London, Augustinus Bader and Estee Lauder.
Dom McBrien, Chief Digital and Omnichannel Officer, John Lewis, says: “Our customers are already using AI apps and discovery platforms to find products they love. These investments will mean that we are right there when customers are looking for ideas - and being able to quickly and easily buy in a few clicks is a gamechanger. We look forward to rolling out these functionalities and welcoming them into our omnichannel mix alongside our own app, website, and physical stores.”
Broghan Smith, Head of Key Accounts at TikTok Shop UK, says: "We're delighted to welcome John Lewis to TikTok Shop. As a cornerstone of British retail with a proud heritage, John Lewis represents exactly the kind of quality brand our community loves to discover. We're excited to see how they'll succeed with discovery commerce on TikTok Shop, bringing their trusted products to life in new and engaging ways for our users."
2026 RTIH Innovation Awards
Digital transformation will be a key focus area at the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards.
The awards are now open for entries and celebrate global retail technology innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world.
Our winners will be revealed at the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards Ceremony, taking place at The HAC in Central London on Wednesday, 4th November.
Check out our 2025 winners here.
Our 2025 hall of fame entrants were revealed during a sold out event which took place at The HAC on 16th October and consisted of a drinks reception, three course meal, and awards ceremony presided over by award winning comedian, actress and writer Tiff Stevenson.
In his welcome speech, Scott Thompson, Founder and Editor, RTIH, said: “This is the awards’ fifth year as a physical event. We started off with just 30 people at the South Place Hotel not far from here, then moved to London Bridge Hotel, then The Barbican, and last year RIBA’s HQ in the West End.”
“But I’m conscious of the fact that, to quote the legend that is Taylor Swift, You’re only as hot as your last hit, baby. So, this year we’ve moved to our biggest venue yet, and also pulled in our largest number of entries to date and broken attendance records.”
He added: “This year’s submissions have without doubt been our best yet. To quote one of the judges: The examples of innovative developments across both traditional and digital retail spaces were truly remarkable.”
Congratulations to our winners, and a big thank you to our sponsors, judging panel, the legend that is Tiff Stevenson, and all those who attended our 2025 gathering.
