Alliance Boots launches new logistics hub in Burton-upon-Trent

Alliance Boots has expanded its UK commercial capabilities with the launch of a newly expanded distribution hub in Burton-upon-Trent.

Following an investment of 50 million pounds, the facility is set to create an additional 500 jobs, bringing its total worker capacity to around 1,000 during peak times.

Located at the Centrum 100 business park, the new 460,000 sq ft distribution centre is being expanded in order to support order processing operations for its Boots.com online portal.

Ken Murphy, chief operating officer for Boots UK and Ireland, said: "As customers use internet shopping more and more, we needed a solution that both worked for us as a businesses and was responsive to our customer needs."

Following the expansion, the site's efficiency will be enhanced by 65 per cent, allowing it to process up to 900,000 orders a day.

Alliance Boots is predicting double-digit growth in annual trading profits for its soon-to-be-concluded 2011-12 fiscal year, thanks in large part to a strong performance over Christmas.