Hermes has officially opened a £31 million (€34 million) new super-hub in central England, its largest single investment in the UK with capacity to process more than one million parcels a day, and increasing overall UK sorting capacity by 45%.
The purpose built, state-of-the-art automated parcel distribution hub in Rugby is the biggest of its kind in the UK, according to the company, and has created over 100 new jobs. The £31 million 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 (140,000 sqm) and has the capability to efficiently process more than 40,000 items per hour, representing 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 e-commerce 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 e-tailers joined Hermes CEO Carole Woodhead and Managing Director Martijn de Lange at the official opening of the Midlands Super Hub yesterday, which included hub tours, presentations of innovative technology such as autonomous vehicles and Starship delivery robots, along with an address by six-time Olympic gold medallist Sir Chris Hoy.
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.”
Donald Pilz, CEO of Hermes Europe, added: “Our latest investment again reinforces our strong confidence in the future and success of the British e-commerce market. Despite the current Brexit discussion, the UK market still plays a key role in the global expansion plans of many of our clients.
“With the new hub, Hermes is therefore not gaining a valuable asset amid increasing internationalised competition but is also setting high standards for the entire CEP industry in Europe.”
