Tuffnells’ new distribution centre in Sheffield

Tuffnells has reported on the relocation of its main distribution centre to a purpose-built facility at Europa Close, Sheffield.

Operating a fleet of over 900 vehicles, Tuffnells offers a range of services including a pre-9.30am service a service to 26 European destinations.

Measuring 20,000 square foot and sitting on a four-acre site, the site is home to 41 vehicles, 51 loading bays and 139 Tuffnells colleagues. The new premises also comes equipped with a new double-conveyor belt, dock levellers, terberg and purpose-built loading ramps to house the 3.5 tonne vehicles.

Commenting on the move, Danny Hollingdrake, general manager at Tuffnells’ Sheffield distribution centre, said: “We were located on Shepcote Lane in Sheffield for 50 years, so it’s fantastic to be able to keep the business in the city it has called home for so many years. Not only does our new location offer greater transport links for improved logistics, but we are already reaping the benefits of the increased efficiency and production levels it has afforded us.

“Since our move, we’ve already added two 7.5 tonne vehicles to our ranks, with further plans to add up to five more HGVs to our fleet in the coming years. The new site provides a more flexible and accessible venue for both our employees and clients. It is a fantastic working environment and has allowed us the opportunity to streamline our procedures and deliver an all round much better customer experience.”

James Church, group property and facilities manager at Tuffnells, added: “The new centre is the first purpose-built facility constructed for the business in over nine years and forms one of our 37 regional locations across the nation. Our centres are an integral part of the service we provide, as they allow us to deliver the exceptional levels of customer service we pride ourselves on. It also facilitates our ability to deliver those large, tricky or cumbersome parcels most other distribution providers might not be able to.

“Tuffnells’ journey started in Sheffield 100 years ago, and we’re so pleased to be able to keep the business’ roots, and the employment opportunities it provides, in Sheffield, both with the launch of this new distribution centre and the recent relocation of our headquarters to the Meadowhall Business Park. This year also saw us investing in safety systems across the network including new initiatives in health and safety training in our distribution centres. As we head into the new year, we look forward to even greater efficiency from all our distribution centres through the introduction of a range of new ones as well as upgrades to existing ones.”