St. Modwen Logistics, a leading logistics developer and manager, has signed a deal with recipe box retailer, Gousto, to deliver a 295,000 sq ft fulfilment centre at St. Modwen Park Burton. The £40m bespoke, chilled fulfilment centre will increase Gousto’s operational capacity by 40%.
The sustainable warehouse space will be home to a highly automated, chilled fulfilment centre where Gousto recipe boxes are picked and packed before being delivered to homes across the country. Hundreds of new jobs will be created to run the operation, from Engineering Managers and Warehouse Managers to Operatives and Front-Line Leaders. Recruitment is expected to begin next year.
The new site will be powered by Gousto’s proprietary technology, which helps serve up an unrivalled customer experience, whilst enabling the company to meet growing demand by maximising daily picking volumes.
CEO and founder of Gousto, Timo Boldt, said: “The future is incredibly exciting for Gousto, as we capitalise on the accelerating trends of convenience, health and sustainability that are driving change within the grocery market.
“We’re delighted to be occupying the space at Burton – not only will this increase our capacity, but it will bring hundreds of job opportunities to the area. We look forward to embarking on our next stage of growth, as we get closer to achieving our vision of becoming the UK’s most-loved way to eat dinner.”
Polly Troughton, Managing Director at St. Modwen Logistics, said: “It’s fantastic to be working in partnership with Gousto and to offer them a bespoke, sustainable warehouse as their operational needs increase and their business flourishes, bringing further employment to the area to support economic growth.
“Our shared mutual values in the environment and sustainability will allow Gousto to innovate, grow and respond to the heightened demand of their expanding customer base.”
In line with its purpose to build a product that has a positive impact on people and the planet, Gousto became a certified B Corporation™ last year, joining a global community of businesses that meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose.
As such, the fulfilment centre at St. Modwen Park Burton will be built with sustainability front of mind, in line with the St. Modwen Swan Standard which offers enhancements across five key areas: environment and sustainability, wellbeing, community, transport, and security.
Developed to the Swan Standard, the fulfilment centre will include three-storey offices and delivers a BREEAM Excellent and EPC A+ rating. This is through elements such as the installation of an energy-efficient hybrid air source heat pump, 20% EV charging points, and extensive use of recycled materials within the offices. The site offers 41% CO2 reduction thanks to energy-efficient external building materials, HVAC and lighting performance values in line with the Building Regulations Part L2a ‘Notional’ building.
St. Modwen Logistics has appointed Readie Construction Limited to deliver the fulfilment centre, with SBH Property Consultants acting on behalf of Gousto. This significant investment in Staffordshire, which was fully supported by East Staffordshire Borough Council, will bring employment and prosperity to the region.
Councillor George Allen, Leader of East Staffordshire Borough Council, said: “We’re pleased that a business like Gousto has decided to invest in the region. Their arrival will bring great opportunities and further employment to the area.”