Distribution giant opening northern depot

A RETAIL distribution company which supplies more than 700 Spar shops across the UK, is to open a northern depot in Leeds. AF Blakemore & Son is moving to Premier Park, in Oulton.
By The Newsroom
Published 11th Feb 2010, 11:08 BST
Updated 11th Feb 2010, 11:08 BST

The company, which started in Wolverhampton and has distribution facilities across the UK, employs more than 5,500 people and has an annual turnover in excess of 700m. It will take a 17-year lease at the 80,074 sq ft warehouse, which will act as a base from which the company can deliver to stores across the region.

The deal was brokered by industrial property specialist Gent Visick in Leeds.

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Mark Titley, estates manager for AF Blakemore, said: "The acquisition of a northern depot for Blakemore Food Service has been on our agenda for some time and we were looking at a number of options when Gent Visick introduced this opportunity to us. The new depot will help us to better serve our existing customers and expand our business."

Andrew Gent, director of Gent Visick, added: "The letting of this unit to AF Blakemore underlines the strength of the M62 corridor market and is another example of the reduction in stock which is currently taking place across this sector."

Joint agents on the letting were the Leeds office of King Sturge who also manage the property on behalf of USS Pension Fund.

The deal at Premier Park is the second in as many weeks after Aviva Investors Pensions bought a warehouse from Harbert Management Corporation, for 5.75m.

Related topics:Leeds