British supermarket chain Waitrose has laid out plans to open its first distribution centre in the UK's southwestern region, with the development expected to create more than 550 jobs.
The 360,000ft² facility will be in Avonmouth, Bristol, and is scheduled to begin operations in early 2027. It will be run by logistics company DHL, which plans to start recruitment in early 2026.
Roles will include 480 warehouse positions and 80 driving jobs, ahead of the centre becoming operational.
Waitrose supply chain director Alison Maffin said: “As we grow, it’s essential that our supply chain grows with us. This new site strengthens our network, ensuring consistent service for our customers and creating over 550 jobs in a state-of-the-art facility. DHL shares our commitment to sustainable logistics, making them the perfect partner for this next phase of our expansion.”
The project forms part of Waitrose’s multi-year £1bn ($1.34bn) investment programme aimed at reshaping its supply chain and investing across its network of 317 stores.
According to Waitrose, the new distribution centre is expected to cut supply chain mileage by an estimated 2,225tpa of CO₂, which is the equivalent of removing more than 1,500 vehicles from UK roads annually.
The company added that the site will also incorporate “market-leading” technologies, including AI-based customer demand forecasting, designed to support product availability while reducing manual processes across the supply chain.
Once fully operational, the Avonmouth centre “will make deliveries more efficient” for 50 existing Waitrose shops across the south-west and provide capacity to support future store openings in the region.
The retailer recently opened a new shop at The Arches in Bristol and has confirmed plans for a full-line supermarket at the Brabazon development in the city.
DHL UKI supply chain CEO Martin Willmor said: “We are excited to be working with Waitrose as they expand their regional presence while reducing supply chain emissions. The new Bristol site reflects our shared commitment to sustainability and operational excellence, whilst supporting the community.”
