The Entertainer, the UK’s fastest growing multichannel high street toy retailer, has extended its contract with XPO Logistics to manage its national storage and distribution operations for the next 10 years.
This includes strengthening The Entertainer’s supply chain to support growth through the implementation and management of the retailer’s major new distribution centre (DC) in Banbury.
The Entertainer sells a wide range of toys and games including outdoor, arts and crafts, games, action figures and dolls. It currently has 116 stores throughout the country, and also offers thousands of toys online at TheToyShop.com.
The relationship between the two companies extends back five-years, with XPO Logistics managing The Entertainer’s distribution function at its original facility in Swindon. After outgrowing its previous site, the retailer invested in a state-of-the-art distribution centre to accommodate future growth and meet seasonal peaks, relocating its operation to Banbury over the summer. XPO Logistics was responsible for the planning and successful execution of the move and operates the new site.
The new 230,000 sq ft (21,370 sq m) warehouse facility has 32,000 pallet locations, which will more than double The Entertainer’s former capacity, and operates 24-hours a day, six days a week. It is the biggest single investment The Entertainer has ever made and represents the best strategic solution to support its ambition to grow its UK store base.
Goods are transported from across the UK, Continent and the Far East, into the Banbury DC. XPO Logistics manages the entire stock process and piece picks products by store, delivering over 65,000 pallets a year via its transport network, which makes up to three outbound deliveries to each retail outlet every week.
Steve Williams, The Entertainer’s Logistics Director, said: “Our new distribution centre is the biggest single investment that The Entertainer has made to date. The close relationship we have developed with XPO Logistics is a key part of our supply chain strategy and will help drive our continued UK store expansion.”
Richard Cawston, Managing Director, Supply Chain - UK and Ireland for XPO Logistics, commented: “We are committed to supporting The Entertainer’s ambitious expansion plans with a flexible logistics solution that can adapt to this important customer’s evolving needs going forward.”
To meet the growing demand, an on-going recruitment drive is expected to create 70 new jobs at the site.