Colleagues are working day and night at Central England Co-operative’s distribution hub to deliver more festive treats than ever before to ensure customers and members can have a fantastic Christmas.
Staff have been labouring around the clock at three sites in Leicester to make sure that shelves across the Society’s stores are stocked with everything from mince pies and tubs of chocolate to wrapping paper and Christmas crackers.
Over 260,000 packs of mince pies, nearly 200,000 tubs of confectionery, over 100,000 chocolate oranges and over 23,000 Christmas puddings will have made their way through the Society’s 120,000 square foot Food Distribution Centre in Scudamore Road by the time Christmas comes around.
The team then pick, pack and transport out to over 240 Central England Co-operative stores across 16 counties, as well as supplying 54 stores for two other co-operatives.
Simultaneously, colleagues in the 42,000 sq ft Chilled Distribution Centre are now getting ready for the peak trading for chilled foods in the busy few shopping days just before Christmas.
Over 16 million cases of chilled food including turkeys, ham joints, Christmas desserts and salads will be distributed in the run-up to Christmas.
Robin Farrell, Head of Distribution and Logistics at Central England Co-operative, said, “The unwavering efforts of colleagues at our distribution centres ensure Central England Co-operative customers can enjoy a special time at Christmas.
“Planning for Christmas begins in January each year for all those involved with the distribution operation as items need to be produced in time for December.
“Christmas may come once a year, but it really is an all-year-round operation for our colleagues.”