NewCold has unveiled its newly-completed deep frozen storage and distribution centre in Wakefield, which Jon Miles, NewCold’s Country Director, says is the largest food-handling facility of its kind ever seen in the UK.
The Wakefield plant will handle 3,000,000 pallets annually and with a total volume of over 4 million cubic metres, the giant deepfreeze has the capacity to store 143,000 pallets – at a constant, minus 23 degrees. 175 pallets come in and out every hour and just five minutes is required to unload NewCold’s bespoke-designed moving floor trailers.
The NewCold plant is fully automated and minimal handling maintains product temperature, at all times. The operation is driven by Davanti software and the dispatch bays are deep-frozen, whereas many conventional stores are chilled.
“Not only does the facility operate at around 50% of the energy consumed by conventional deep-frozen storage sites,” adds Jon,” but also, given the proximity to the motorway network, 90% of NewCold’s delivery points can be reached and returned from in a driver’s shift. This improves customer service and keeps ‘food miles’ to a minimum.”
NewCold’s founder and CEO Bram Hage said: “This is the coming together of talented people, both from NewCold and our many supply partners and customers, to formulate a truly global consolidation of skills and resourses in the supply chain.”
Mark Slaughter, Director General for Investment at the Department for International Trade, highlighted the importance of ongoing commercial partnerships between the UK, the Netherlands and numerous other countries in which NewCold has established similar operations:
“I am delighted that the Department for International Trade, working in partnership with Wakefield Council, has been able to support NewCold to deliver a truly world class facility bringing over 200 to the area. The completion of this site is just the start for NewCold and our international economic department stands ready to help them further expand their UK presence.”
To complete the official opening ceremony, Denise Jeffrey, Deputy Leader of Wakefield Council and a longterm supporter of NewCold’s Wakefield venture, cut a ribbon suspended between two NewCold double-deck temperature-controlled trailers.
NewCold has so far committed around £100m on build cost alone, and their growth plans over the coming two years will see further investment, including recruitment of an additional 70 personnel. The NewCold logistics operation comprises 50 tractor units and 80 temperature-controlled trailers,vmany of which are high-volume double-deckers with auto-loading.
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