DP World is expanding its UK logistics footprint after agreeing to take over six grocery distribution sites from GXO Logistics, adding around two million square feet of warehouse capacity and more than 2,000 staff.
The transfer, which has been approved by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), was required as part of GXO’s acquisition of Wincanton.
Five of the sites are in England and one is in Northern Ireland, with the facilities serving major grocery customers including Asda, Sainsbury’s and the Co-op.
The sites are due to transfer to DP World in September, while GXO will retain transport operations where applicable.
More than 2,000 employees will move into DP World’s UK operations, which already include container ports at London Gateway and Southampton, as well as logistics, freight forwarding and marine services.
The deal significantly increases DP World’s contract logistics presence in the UK and strengthens its position in the grocery, retail and consumer sectors.
The six facilities provide ambient, chilled, frozen and bonded storage, supporting a wide range of grocery supply chains.
Around 46,000 individual products will be stored across the sites, which play a key role in supplying supermarkets, convenience stores and neighbourhood retailers across the UK.
DP World said the acquisition would help it offer a more integrated logistics service, connecting port operations, warehousing and distribution.
Angela Howard, vice president for contract logistics in North Europe at DP World, said: “We are delighted to welcome these six sites and the talented teams who operate them into DP World.”
She added: “They support some of the UK’s best-known grocery retailers and play a vital role in keeping products moving efficiently through complex supply chains every day.”
DP World said customers would see no disruption as the sites change hands.
“For our customers, it will be business as usual, backed by the strength, scale and investment of a global logistics business,” Ms Howard said.
She added that the move would allow DP World to connect ports, transport, warehousing and distribution through a single platform.
“This is an important step in our ambition to build a truly end-to-end logistics offering across the UK and Europe,” she said.
The company said the expansion would broaden its geographic reach and strengthen its ability to serve retail and consumer markets across the country.