Exel continues to grow its home delivery activities with Argos Direct

(London, UK – 28 April 2003) Exel, the global leader in supply chain management, has today announced the commencement of full operations at Argos Direct’s new location in Marsh Leys, Bedford, from where it manages the two-man customer home deliveries for the high street retailer across the UK.

The new facility at Marsh Leys provides vital increased capacity for Argos Direct as its home delivery operations expand. With 650,000 sq ft, it represents one of the largest distribution centres in the UK and is in addition to the Acton Gate site in Stafford that Exel also manages on behalf of the retailer. The site, which will eventually employ around 800 people, is now fully operational and provides an ideal location to service Argos Direct’s 40,000 two-man home delivery customers each week.

The Marsh Leys project started some 18 months ago and involved Exel and Argos working closely together to design the state-of-the-art facility. Over Christmas 2002 some 8,000 pallets of stock were relocated by Exel from the nearby Marston Gate site, which Exel took over in 2001, without any service disruption. Deliveries commenced from Marsh Leys in early January.

Perry Watts, Managing Director Retail and Consumer Non-Food, at Exel, commented: “We are delighted to be operating one of the UK’s largest distribution centres on behalf of Argos Direct. We have already employed over 200 additional colleagues during the first three months and we expect to grow the operation further in the coming year. We are particularly pleased to be extending our relationship with the ‘Retailer of the Year’, an accolade Argos recently received from Retail Week magazine.”

Steve Tabor, General Manager of the two-man delivery service at Argos Direct, highlighted: “We are confident that as our relationship continues to grow with Exel, we will have the most efficient and effective solutions in place to meet our supply chain challenges. Home delivery is a growing business and with Exel’s expertise, matched by its understanding of our business and demands of our market sector, we are developing a trusting and mutually beneficial partnership.”