According to the Irish News, who broke the story, the deal with McCulla complements Iceland’s existing arrangement with DHL, who deliver goods to stores from an RDC in Mallusk.
Iceland operates 37 stores in Northern Ireland, and had previously transported goods to some of its NI branches straight from an RDC in Livingston.
However, now goods will be transported to two depots in Northern Ireland before being taken to stores by trucks based in Northern Ireland.
Thanks to the extra business from the deal, McCulla now needs extra staff and has launched a recruitment campaign to find warehouse operatives for its depot in Lisburn.
Commenting on the deal, Ron Metcalfe, who is in charge of Iceland’s operations in Ireland, told The Irish News:
“Obviously since Brexit, we’ve felt the need to get more warehouse space in Northern Ireland that could support both northern and southern Ireland. There are different strategies we’ve put into place since Brexit to make sure that we have the easiest and most economic route to market. It allows us to bring full pallets into Northern Ireland rather than what we used to do, which was pick by store.”
Metcalfe also told The Irish News that the post-Brexit trade deal arrangements were benefiting suppliers across the island of Ireland:
“It feels like both sets of suppliers are benefitting from moving local products north or south. It seems very advantageous for the local suppliers.”
Photo © Copyright Jaggery and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence (image of Iceland’s Swindon RDC, used for illustrative purposes only)