Construction at the site, located on the outskirts of Buxton, began in 2019 to extend the factory’s warehouse facility and create a new state-of-the-art logistics operation, bringing the distribution of brands Buxton and Nestlé Pure Life fully in-house.
The new 14,000m2 extension has also brought additional storage capacity allowing all products to be stored centrally including international brands S.Pellegrino and Perrier, reducing the use of external storage, cutting road miles and transport emissions annually by around 480 tonnes.
With its increased storage capacity and scale, the site has introduced new technology and innovated its warehousing design, bringing in new Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs), which are capable of moving pallets of finished goods around with no driver on board. This new technology has improved operational efficiencies and safety and at the same time, has created the opportunity to upskill local employees with new roles and responsibilities in managing the automated guided vehicle system.
Stefano Agostini, CEO Nestlé UK & Ireland, said: “Investments on this scale rely upon sustained confidence, which comes from having the right business environment to operate in, the right people to work with, and the right products to offer consumers.
“The state-of-the-art operation we have opened is the result of strategic investment and effective project delivery by all involved. We hope for continued collaboration locally to help our business progress on its sustainable, regenerative path whilst delivering innovation, inclusive jobs and growth.”
Grant McKenzie, Managing Director for Nestlé Waters UK, said: “To support the continued growth of our brands including Buxton Natural Mineral Water and Nestlé Pure Life, we have invested in our operations in a careful and sustainable way for the future. Water is one of the healthiest, natural ways to hydrate and with more and more people choosing to enjoy natural source waters for hydration, this investment demonstrates our long-term commitment to the Buxton community. Furthermore, the investment shines a spotlight on our sustainable operational improvements, another step on our journey to reaching net zero by 2050.”
The site in Buxton was the first manufacturing site in the UK to achieve the prestigious Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) Standard certification with platinum status in 2021 – the highest certification level awarded for responsible water stewardship. This care for the environment has continued with some of the investment going into the design and creation of a new nature reserve around the perimeter. The reserve has more than 200 trees, extensive wildflower planting and a variety of new habitats built, to encourage wildlife and increase biodiversity in this area. An area which has otherwise been rich in grazing and pastureland, yet low in habitats for wildlife to thrive.
The work was completed in the summer of 2021 and the opening which was originally planned for Autumn 2021 had to be delayed due to Covid-19 restrictions in place at the time.