Birmingham, 10 October 2012 – Leading parcel company DPD has invested £4.3m on three new state-of-the art depots in London, Southampton and Dundee. The new depots, which collectively are expected to create up to 150 new jobs, will expand DPD’s capacity to respond to a significant increase in B2C volumes driven by its hugely successful one-hour time slot service, Predict.
DPD will create up to 70 new jobs with the opening of a new London depot on Mandela Way, Southwark. The 4,500 sq m new depot, which will be fully operational in October 2012, will enhance DPD’s capability to handle increased volumes of parcels in central London. It will help relieve pressure from the company’s existing London depots at London Bridge and Kings Cross. The depot represents a £1.5 million investment by DPD.
Southampton
DPD has commissioned a new £2.3m purpose built 4,000 sq m depot to replace its existing warehouse at Chandlers Ford in Southampton. The new 3.5 acre site on Hamilton Business Park, Hedge End will be fully operation in October 2012. The relocation of the depot provides DPD with improved transport links to the motorway and will make it easier for customers visiting the depot to collect parcels. Up to 30 new jobs will be created to cover new routes in Southampton, Portsmouth and the surrounding area.
Dundee
DPD will open a new 2,700 sq m depot on Fowler Road on the West Pitkerro Industrial Site. The company currently operates from four depots in Scotland – two in Glasgow, then Edinburgh and Aberdeen. The new £0.5m depot will be fully operational in October 2012 and will create 50 new jobs to service up to 50 new routes. DPD’s volumes have grown considerably in Scotland and the depot site will be important geographically for customers in the Dundee/Perth area who are currently served by Edinburgh up to 60 miles away.
Dwain McDonald, DPD UK’s CEO commented, “In recent years we have seen an unprecedented increase in our parcel volumes due mainly to Predict, our unique one-hour time slot service. The new depots will improve our capacity and are further evidence of DPD’s ongoing investment in our infrastructure. Deliveries on behalf of the e-commerce industry now represent half of our business and we expect this growth in e-retailing to continue to go from strength to strength. Successful delivery is a crucial part of the home shopping experience and this announcement underlines our commitment to improve our service to customers right across the UK.”