George at Asda and DHL team up on ‘next-generation ecommerce fulfilment centre’

The fulfilment centre in Derby, which will go live next year, is a recommissioned premises that will deploy “advanced automation technology to support high-volume, fast-throughput ecommerce operations, developed to support high-growth, seasonal peaks and wide product ranges”.

It will consolidate all George.com’s clothing ecommerce operations in a single location and operating model, providing “Asda with more efficient dispatch capabilities” and a “significantly enhanced” customer proposition.

The hub will include an AutoStore goods-to-person system and pocket sorter technology, “enabling rapid order processing and increased operational efficiency” and will be able to handle up to 350,000 units a day with end-to-end order turnaround times of 30 minutes.

DHL expects the hub, which it is anticipated will operate as a shared-user site in future, to create around 450 jobs.

Asda vice-president of logistics Chris Hall said: “Partnering with DHL will give us the fast, scalable and resilient fulfilment operation we need as our ecommerce business grows. Their purpose‑built infrastructure will support our ambition for George to become the UK’s largest clothing retailer by volume, helping us handle rising demand while maintaining the high service standards our customers expect.”

DHL Supply Chain UK and Ireland chief executive Martin Willmor said: “Investing in advanced, ecommerce-ready facilities like Derby is central to how we support our customers’ growth strategies. This site will combine leading automation technology with DHL Supply Chain’s operational expertise to deliver speed, scalability and resilience for ecommerce fulfilment.”