Britvic has officially opened its newly upgraded £25 million national distribution center in Leicestershire, enhancing its capabilities in food and beverage packaging.
This state-of-the-art facility serves both national and international clients, distributing popular soft drinks such as Robinsons, Tango, and J2O.
A recent £20 million investment—following a prior commitment of £5 million over the last three years—has led to substantial enhancements in the technical systems and facilities essential for efficient warehouse and logistical operations.
As a direct result of this investment, the distribution center is now equipped with 17 new automatic cranes, 18 dispatch lanes for loading vehicles, and 20 automated vehicles to transport pallets within the warehouse. This upgrade allows the facility to efficiently move 600 pallets per hour to meet customer demands.
Nigel Paine, supply chain director at Britvic, remarked: “I am delighted that we have completed the renovation of our national distribution centre in Lutterworth.”
“This cutting-edge facility enables us to continue offering our customers the wide range of Britvic products they love, while also providing our employees with a dynamic work environment that supports their best performance.”
Throughout a typical year, the distribution center processes 75,000 trucks, transporting 1.9 million pallets to over 900 locations. This new investment will facilitate an increase in truck traffic to accommodate the growing pallet volume.
In addition, the upgraded center includes refreshed office and meeting spaces, aligning with Britvic’s Working Well approach to flexible work, ensuring a modern and comfortable environment for collaboration among employees and visitors.
The facility now boasts 10 brand-new electric vehicle charging stations for employees, featuring a new 47kw direct current fast charger to support sustainable practices.
Britvic’s national distribution center has been a vital part of Lutterworth for 30 years and currently employs over 80 individuals.
This development is part of Britvic’s broader commitment to its supply chain, which includes significant investments such as £40 million in its Rugby factory over the past two years—resulting in the installation of a fifth canning line—and £8 million for a heat recovery system at its Beckton factory in London, contributing to a projected annual emissions reduction of around 1,200 tonnes.