Arla Foods has agreed a deal to open a new 285,000 sq ft central distribution centre (CDC) at Prologis’s RFI DIRFT scheme in Northamptonshire.
The delivery of the new facility is being project managed by XPO Logistics, which will operate the site when it becomes operational in late 2027.
The facility will bring all of the dairy cooperative’s chilled dairy products, such as cheese, butter and yogurts, into a single, centralised location.
Construction of the new distribution centre, which will be built to achieve BREEAM Outstanding and EPC A+ ratings, has already commenced.
Fran Ball, SVP UK supply chain for Arla Foods UK, said: “Consolidating our chilled pallet operations into a single, advanced facility in Northamptonshire is a strategic leap forward for Arla. By partnering with XPO Logistics and Prologis, we are improving the resilience of a critical part of our supply chain and making meaningful progress on reducing waste and road miles.”
Dan Myers, managing director – UK and Ireland, at XPO Logistics, added: “Arla stands for quality, their products are loved and trusted by every household in the UK. This future ready CDC will play a key role in ensuring that Arla continues to deliver great products whilst improving the resilience, sustainability and efficiency of Arla’s supply chain. Working together, we’re driving positive strategic change which will support Arla’s business to continue to prosper today and tomorrow.”
Phil Oakley, SVP at Prologis UK, said: “Partnerships and developments like this play an important role in creating long term economic value for West Northamptonshire, helping to attract investment and underpin jobs across the region. At Prologis RFI DIRFT, we’ve built a community with the capacity and skills to support high-performing logistics operations like this one and we look forward to supporting Arla and XPO as the project moves forward.”
