Bibby buys in Middleton

SSL International has sold a 108,000 sq ft warehouse at Stakehill Industrial and Distribution Park in Middleton to Bibby Distribution.

The new site will consolidate the operations of two smaller facilities currently leased by Bibby Distribution in Heywood.

All customer operations currently based at the Heywood sites, covering sectors from automotive to packaging, will move across with Bibby, as will all 50 employees.

The new site offers a storage capacity for up to 11,500 pallets and a 6,500 sq ft mezzanine floor.

Paul Cullingford, chief financial officer of Bibby Distribution, said: "This is an opportune purchase for both us and our customers and provides a real platform for growth. With the additional space the site offers, and the greater stability that comes with owned premises, we can help customers streamline their activities and allow them to scale operations up or down with a more adaptable multi-user site.

"In addition, the new facility gives us the scope to offer a wider range of added value services to our customers which were not possible from existing premises, including product re-packing, re-labelling and decanting. It also holds accreditation to the stringent standards set by the American Institute of Bakers, an organisation which endeavours to protect the safety of food supply chains worldwide.

"This is a significant investment for us and we have worked closely with our customers to ensure that the new set-up allows us to enhance our service offering to them. In fact, we are currently in the process of making internal modifications to the site to suit individual customer requirements and we aim to have the site fully operational by mid-September."

Stakehill Industrial and Distribution Park has a direct dual carriageway link to the A627(M), which in joins the M62 motorway at junction 20 approximately one mile to the north, and is located near to Rochdale, Oldham and Manchester city centre.

Detail of the sale agreed was not disclosed.