Lidl has launched a consultation with about 300 workers at its regional distribution centre in Enfield, north London, over the proposed closure of the site.
The 300 workers were informed yesterday and told redeployment opportunities would be explored ahead of the proposed closure at the end of September this year.
The facility is one of Lidl GB’s older RDCs, having been in operation for 20 years, and is considered no longer viable.
It was unsuitable for redevelopment or expansion, according to Lidl, and has increasingly been supported by additional capacity from newer RDCs to supply Lidl’s growing store estate.
“After almost 20 years of servicing Lidl stores across London and beyond, we are currently considering the future of our Enfield RDC,” said a Lidl spokesperson.
“Unfortunately, its size and suitability are no longer compatible with our growing operations. Over the years, we’ve had to reduce the number of stores that are serviced by the site, relying on our other RDCs to provide day-to-day support.
“Alternative solutions to increase the site’s capacity have been investigated, but unfortunately there is no viable opportunity to expand or redevelop the site.
“As such, and with regret, we no longer consider it viable to maintain the building and future operations. We are, therefore, proposing the closure of this location with a view to consolidating operations within our other warehouses.”
Lidl opened its biggest RDC in the world, and its first to use automation, in Luton, about 30 miles from the Enfield facility, in 2023. Capacity at the 1.2 million sq ft Luton site is still building, while other new RDCs are also in the pipeline.
Lidl’s UK estate has grown vastly in the past 20 years, from fewer than 400 stores to more than 960.
They are currently fed by 14 distribution centres.
Lidl also closed a legacy distribution centre in Walsall last year, affecting about 100 workers.
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