Retailer plans £2m warehouse upgrade

Fashion and lifestyle retailer, Joe Browns, will invest £2m in a warehouse upgrade designed to support its growth ambitions.The company’s existing warehouse, which forms part of its head office building in Holbeck, Leeds, was extended in November 2020 at a cost of £1.5m.The new upgrade confirmed today – 13 January – is due to continuing healthy sales growth and a desire to future proof the logistics element of the business.The upgrade will see the installation of a 110m conveyor system and racking.It will allow deliveries into the depot to be picked directly on arrival – doubling handling replenishment capacity – and will further reduce delivery times to customers and third party partners who have a direct despatch agreement with the retailer.At the same time, enhanced tracking technology included within the project cost will also improve Joe Browns scan and pick efficiencies.Work starts on the warehouse upgrade, which handles the retailer’s home and fashion offer, in three weeks. Existing operations within the property will continue throughout the works.Darren Abbott, finance director, said: “A customer centric approach is central to our growth ambitions both directly and through third party partners.“Getting product there in the most effective and efficient way is key to this. We’ve already outgrown our earlier warehouse extension and this investment will ensure an even more efficient scan and pick capacity as we continue to grow.”Over the course of the last year the retailer revealed a newly created role of CEO, with Peter Alecock joining from JD Sports.It also unveiled more extensions to its home and fashion offers, including its largest homeware offer to date, and an evolution of its brand.