Global grocer praises ‘incredible commitment’ of its city employees
Mel Smith, CEO of Ocado Retail, has praised the ‘huge significance’ of the firm’s Sunderland site less than two years after the global grocer arrived in the city.
With300full-timeemployees already in post at the Beam building on Riverside Sunderland, the food delivery company has transferred its team on Wearside to its growing Retail arm – a move that it says will create greater development opportunities for its talented employees.
The CEO and the rest of theleadershipteamorganised socially-distanced celebrations to mark the transfer to Ocado Retail from its logistics business, with staff attending in small groups to meet them.
Mel said: “The move into Sunderland has really helped the company to advance its growth plans and I am delightedtonowcountthe300-strong Customer Hub team as part of Ocado Retail.
“Despite only opening our Sunderland base in late 2019, with less than six months of operations before Covid-19 hit the UK, the team have shown incredible commitment.
“We have been able to quickly ramp up operations in Sunderland, building a talented team from a standing start.
“The skilled workforce was justoneofthereasonswewere attracted to the area and Sunderland has delivered for us.”
Patrick Melia, chief executive of Sunderland City Council, attended the event to learn
more about the company’s plans and share with Mel, and Ocado’s leadership team, the vision for Riverside Sunderland.
He said: “Ocado’s a fantastic brand that is going from strength to strength and we are thrilled to have them in
Sunderland.
“As the great many businessesthatchooseSunderland know, we have an unrivalled skills-base, attractive offices that represent excellent value for money and we have an enviable work-life balance which means businesses here enjoy the benefit of happy colleagues who deliver service with a smile.
“We’re thrilled that Ocado Retail is seeing these many benefits.”
The Beam was the first buildingtotakeshapeonRiversideSunderland,heraldingthe transformation of the former Vaux Brewery site. Since then, plans for City Hall have moved forward and the building is little over six months from completion.
In addition, two further offices are set to be built.