Shepton Mallet-based Framptons Transport Services is to open a £5m, 85,000 sq ft distribution centre on the town’s outskirts as part of its collaboration with pet food supplier Crown Pet Foods of Castle Cary.
The project has already created 50 jobs since the summer, taking Frampton’s workforce to more than 200. Once it is operational, the new warehouse will take the firm’s total storage capacity to more than 175,000 sq ft.
The centre has been designed by Shepton Mallet architects Della Valle and built by High Littleton-based contractor Ken Biggs.
Francesco Della Valle of Della Valle said: “From our initial instruction as project architect in July 2011, the scheme has been carried out efficiently and swiftly.
“We are on time, on budget, and the facility is due to open in early 2013. The warehouse nestles very neatly into its location. It is bold enough in colour, scale and position to be noticed from certain approaches into the town, but does not dominate the landscape.”
The centre will have 14,000 racked pallet spaces and use state-of-the-art mechanical handling equipment. Stock movements are monitored in real time via a computerised warehouse management system using radio frequency technology and which links with customers’ own IT systems.
