Hermes, the consumer delivery specialist, has officially opened its purpose-built, state-of-the-art automated parcel distribution hub in Rugby, the biggest of its kind in the UK, creating over 100 new jobs. The £31m development represents the most significant investment in the company's history, highlighting its dedication to future growth, innovation and peak capacity.
Located at the Rugby Gateway, the Midlands Super Hub measures 270,000 square feet, the equivalent of 34 football pitches, and has the capability to efficiently process in excess of one million parcels each day. As a result, the company's overall parcel processing capacity will be increased by 45%, ensuring it will continue to comfortably handle rising volumes driven by the ongoing growth of ecommerce in the UK and overseas.
The facility also provides Hermes, which has experienced double-digit growth every year for the past six years, with future expansion opportunities. This includes the installation of a third sortation tier that would increase the hub's capacity by a further half a million parcels a day.
Many of the UK's leading retailers and etailers joined Hermes CEO Carole Woodhead and Managing Director Martijn de Lange at the official opening of the Midlands Super Hub yesterday. The special event was kicked-off in style as six-time Olympic gold medallist Sir Chris Hoy addressed the audience, before attendees were transported to Rugby for a lunch and a full tour of the premises.
Clients enjoyed visiting the interactive area at Rugby which supports Hermes' commitment to innovation and enables the company to showcase its latest services and solutions to clients, including those devised by the Hermes Innovation Lab. On the day they were able to see a number of innovations such as the type of autonomous vehicles that could be used in the future and Starship delivery robots.
Carole Woodhead, CEO of Hermes, said: "We are extremely proud to officially open our Midlands Super Hub in Rugby, the largest parcel hub of its kind in the UK. This substantial project demonstrates our total commitment to delivering world-class delivery solutions, not just for today, but for the foreseeable future.
"A retailer's top priority is to have complete confidence in their delivery partner's capacity during peak. This £31m investment guarantees that we will continue to operate a highly proficient operation throughout the year, including those intense and prolonged spikes of activity.
"The facility significantly strengthens our network and infrastructure, vastly enhances our throughput capability, and guarantees that we are in the best possible position to support the UK's retail industry for many years to come."
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