Supply chain - NewsWireExplorer

M&S starts building major £340million warehouse in UK county – opens in 2029

Harry J — Thu, 14 May 2026 10:00:47 +0000

Marks & Spencer has started building a major new £340million warehouse in Northamptonshire (Image: M&S)

Marks & Spencer has started building a major new £340million warehouse in Northamptonshire as part of plans to modernise its food supply chain. The retailer confirmed construction is now under way on its new automated National Distribution Centre (NDC), which is set to open in 2029. The 1.3 million-square-foot site is the largest-ever investment in M&S’s supply chain and will support more than 1,000 permanent jobs once complete.

The milestone was marked with a steel-signing ceremony at the site, led by Michelle Elliman from the M&S Rugby store. She was joined by Kevin Bennett, CEO of Gist, M&S Food’s logistics arm, Stuart Andrew, MP for Daventry and Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, and representatives from Prologis (the logistics property developer behind the site).

The new depot will use advanced automation (Image: M&S)

More than 200 M&S Food stores will be serviced by the new distribution centre. The company said the site will increase capacity, reduce long-term costs and improve product availability for customers.

Mr Bennett said: “Starting the build on this site marks a major step in transforming M&S into a true destination for the weekly shop, with a modernised supply chain at the heart of that ambition. This investment will boost capacity for future growth, lower our long-term cost to serve, and improve product availability so customers get the right products in the right place at the right time.

“With construction under way, this new site strengthens our network and puts us ahead of the volume curve as we build a bigger, better Food business. By deploying the latest proven automation, we’re future-proofing our operations and UK retail logistics, while creating 1,000 permanent jobs on site.”

The project was first announced in August 2025. At the time, Alex Freudmann, managing director at M&S Food, said: “We’re transforming M&S into a destination for the weekly shop and modernising our supply chain is central to that ambition.

The milestone was marked with a steel-signing ceremony at the site (Image: M&S)

“This investment will boost capacity for future growth, lower our cost to serve over the long-term, and improve product availability – ensuring customers find the right products in the right place at the right time.

“Our new site will strengthen our network and help us get ahead of the volume curve as we build a bigger, better Food business. By using the latest, proven automation, we are future-proofing both our business and UK retail logistics, as well as creating 1,000 jobs permanently on site and 2,000 during the construction phase.”

The new depot will use advanced automation, including an automated pallet crane for long-life ambient products, a high-speed shuttle system for sorting and storing stock, and a hands-free picking solution that loads items directly onto store-ready delivery cages.

M&S said these systems will improve efficiency and accuracy, while making restocking faster and easier for colleagues in stores.

The building is designed to achieve a BREEAM Outstanding rating, placing it among the most sustainable buildings globally and making it M&S’s flagship Plan A warehouse.

More than 200 M&S Food stores will be serviced by the new distribution centre (Image: Getty)

Sustainability features will include responsibly sourced and recycled building materials, an EPC A+ rating with a large-scale rooftop solar array, rainwater harvesting, EV charging points, energy-saving technologies and a dedicated vehicle maintenance unit.

Mr Andrew said: “I welcome the investment by Marks & Spencer into the new distribution centre in Daventry. It was great to visit the impressive site and meet the people involved, and learn about the future plans for the centre. This area has for a long time been at the heart of the UK’s logistics network, and this investment shows confidence in the local people and businesses.”

James Hemstock, vice president of capital deployment at Prologis UK, added: “This construction milestone reflects the incredible strength of collaboration behind this project.

“Working closely with M&S, Gist, Winvic and West Northamptonshire Council, this project from the outset has been shaped by a shared commitment to quality, sustainability and long-term value.”

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UK engineering company plunges into administration – in business since 1964

Harry J — Sun, 10 May 2026 01:31:30 +0000

A UK manufacturing company founded more than 60 years ago has entered administration. Compact Orbital Gears Limited, which was founded in 1964, operates as a highly specialised engineering firm. The business designs, manufactures, and supplies a comprehensive range of gearboxes and test rigs. Gearboxes are components of a machine that control speed and power, while test rigs are custom machines used to test how well other equipment performs before it is used in the real world.

While its primary focus includes the demanding automotive and aerospace sectors, the company has also historically supplied components for complex industrial applications and the growing wind turbine market.

According to The Gazette, Andrew Turpin and Matthew Douglas Hardy of the insolvency firm Poppleton & Appleby were appointed as joint administrators on March 13. The company officially registered its office in Birmingham, while its principal manufacturing and trading address operated out of the Brynberth Industrial Estate in Rhayader, Powys.

Following their appointment, a formal notice was published in The Gazette on May 7, announcing that a virtual meeting of the company’s creditors has been scheduled for 11:00 on June 2. The primary purpose of this meeting is to form a creditors’ committee.

Throughout late 2025 and early 2026, the manufacturing sector has faced pressure from rising operational costs, supply chain bottlenecks, and tightening profit margins.

Several other established businesses have recently collapsed under similar economic strains. In February, British aerospace company Orbex entered administration.

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UK children’s bike manufacturer crashes into administration – founded by couple in 2013

Harry J — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 16:31:59 +0000

A children’s bike manufacturer has fallen into administration, with staff being made redundant. Frog Bikes, headquartered in Ascot, Berkshire, with a factory in Pontypool, Wales, has begun laying off staff after filing for administration.

The business was launched by parents Jerry and Shelley Lawson in 2013. According to their website, the company aimed to “create high-quality, lightweight bikes specifically designed for children”. It worked with Olympic bike engineer Dimitris Katsanis to create bikes perfectly suited to young riders.

However, official records on The Gazette show that Frog Bikes appointed Anthony John Wright and Alastair Rex Massey, of FRP Advisory Trading Limited, as administrators on Thursday, February 19.

The brand previously confirmed the news, citing “tighter financial markets and reduced access to funding (making) it increasingly difficult for growing manufacturing businesses to secure the requisite working capital”.

It also blamed Brexit and difficulties adjusting to post-pandemic “supply chain disruption”, as reported by road.cc.

In 2021, the owners of Frog Bikes claimed that leaving the EU cost them £250,000 in two months. Then, just two years later, their accounts showed losses of £500,000.

Staff at Frog Bikes are now being made redundant, with a few making announcements on LinkedIn describing it as “a difficult day”.

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