Joe Browns invests £2m in warehouse upgrade

By

Nigel TAYLOR

Published
Jan 13, 2023

Joe Browns is to invest £2 million in a warehouse upgrade, designed to support both the fashion and lifestyle retailer’s “growth ambitions and increase pick face efficiency”, it said Friday.

The upgrade will expand production at its existing warehouse that forms part of its head office building in Holbeck, Leeds, and was extended in November 2020 at a cost of £1.5 million. 

The upgrade reflects “continuing healthy sales growth and helping to future proof the logistics element of the business,” it said

The work will see the installation of a 110m conveyor system and racking that will build on Joe Browns’ existing pick face efficiency.  It will allow deliveries into the depot to be picked directly on arrival, doubling handling replenishment capacity, and further reduce delivery times to customers and third-party partners that have a direct despatch agreement with the retailer.

At the same time, enhanced tracking technology will further improve Joe Browns’ scan and pick efficiencies, it said, adding the warehouse upgrade will be functional by Q3. 

Darren Abbott, Finance Director, Joe Browns, also said: “Getting product there in the most effective and efficient way is key to this. We’ve already outgrown our earlier warehouse extension and this investment will ensure an even more efficient scan and pick capacity as we continue to grow.”

Joe Browns also has retail partnerships with The Very Group, Next, Freeman Grattan Holdings and N Brown Group, “all taking either its fashion or homeware, or a combination of both”.

Last year, the retailer announced a newly created role of CEO with Peter Alecock joining from JD Sports, further extensions to its home and fashion offers, including its largest homewares offer, and an evolution of its brand look and feel.