Piping hot introduction to massive new warehouse

JUDITH TONNER

Lidl’s massive new Eurocentral warehouse opened its doors in style with a rousing performance from North Lanarkshire schools’ pipe band.

The 58,500 square metre regional distribution centre serves 99 stores across Scotland with produce from 60 different suppliers, and is the company’s largest distribution centre in the UK.

A total of 850 staff members will work at the £70 million centre; with 250 new jobs having been created and 600 workers transferring from the supermarket’s previous distribution centre at Livingston.

Lidl senior manager Euan Fitzpatrick joined young musicians from the world champion band to pipe staff members into the vast new centre, to the sound of Highland Cathedral.

Regional director for Scotland Ross Millar said: “We’re thrilled to be celebrating the opening of our new warehouse in Eurocentral with talented local musicians – a truly Scottish affair to bring in such a significant milestone for us as a business.

“I’m incredibly proud of the team here in Eurocentral and look forward to welcoming new members to the Lidl family in the coming weeks and months.

“The centre underlines our commitment as a business to create more jobs; we’ve grown to employ more than 2200 people since arriving in Scotland in 1994.”

Lidl plan to open their 100th Scottish store by the start of 2020 and say that the Eurocentral development “reflects the discounter’s continued investment ambitions in the country” and is part of their plan to invest £1.45 billion across Britain this year.