WHOLESALER’S REGIONAL DISTRIBUTION CENTRE CREATES NEW JOBS

A major UK drinks wholesaler has opened up in a purpose-built distribution depot in Doncaster, creating more than 50 new jobs.

LWC Drinks has completed the £7 million project to take on a 58,164 sq ft site on Herons Way, and will serve customers in South and East Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.

It follows “enormous success” through 2022 for the Manchester- headquartered business. The company distributes beers, wines, spirits, and soft drinks, working with all licensed establishments across on-trade and off-trade around the country, delivering more than 8,500 products to more than 14,000 customers.

Having spent much of 2022 focused on continuing its post-pandemic return to a position of strong, sustainable, profitable growth, the family-owned business has been putting the wheels in motion for its expansion plans. The Doncaster acquisition, of a former Heras unit, is joined by two others, with 300 new employees welcomed in the past 12 months.

Managing director and co-founder Ebrahim Mukadam, who launched the £249 million turnover business with chair Robin Gray more than 40 years ago, said: “2022 was a record- breaking year for LWC.

We’re fortunate enough to see a growth in turnover over the last year and identified a need to increase our storage capacity to meet customer demands and drive efficiencies through the business and for our customers. In fact, we have added 350,000 sq ft distribution space over the last year alone.”

He added: “Opening this new depot in Doncaster marks another crucial step forward in our growth plans. Expanding our national footprint is imperative in the future of our business, so we can continue to support our partners where they need us the most.

By actively securing more warehousing space and creating new, quality jobs in the process, we’re working hard to invest in the future.”

A total of eight new staff in sales and marketing, eight further office roles and 35 positions covering warehousing and distribution are being created.

The new facility will house a new warehouse management system with improved inventory management and forecasting accuracy for the distribution teams.

LWC also operates 40 of its own venues under the Dorbiere Pub Group name, comprising community pubs, country inns and student bars across the North West, Midlands and North East. The business is privately owned by the Mukadam and Gray families.