Musgrave SuperValu-Centra awards contract to Wincanton

Musgrave SuperValu-Centra, independent Northern Ireland grocery retailer, has transferred the operation of its ambient distribution centre at Mallusk to logistics service provider Wincanton, which already operates the company’s adjacent chilled facility.

All 70 employees at Musgrave SuperValu-Centra’s ambient operation have transferred to Wincanton under the Transfer of Undertakings Protection of Employment Regulations (TUPE). The new agreement reportedly marks the first stage in the retailer’s long-term logistics strategy, which will see its operations at Fortwilliam, Cloughmore and Mallusk centralised to a new purposebuilt distribution centre on the Belfast Harbour Estate, to be operated by Wincanton. The 200,000 sq ft complex, set to open this autumn, will provide warehousing for both ambient and chilled products under one roof, reducing costs and bringing environmental benefits by reducing the number of vehicle movements. Initially it will supply around 70 stores in Northern Ireland and allow for future business growth.