By Business & Finance 
Health retailer Holland and Barrett has today signed the lease of a new warehouse in Dublin to open in March and has also confirmed its commitment to a further warehouse to be built over the next 18 months.
The new storage and distribution capacity is expected to generate around 60 new local jobs and improve delivery to Holland and Barrett’s network of 70 high street stores across Ireland.
“The new warehouse facilities leased from Rohan Holdings are located close to Dublin airport and will help us streamline deliveries to our stores here as well as become the base for distribution to some overseas markets such as Scandinavia, said Mark Kendrick, distribution director, Holland and Barrett.
“We are however particularly excited that these new facilities will help us drive new opportunities to source local Irish products. We want Irish companies to be knocking on our door with great new product development opportunities when our new buying team is settled here.”
Although most new positions will be for warehouse operations, the business will be creating a local buying team that will have a particular focus on bringing local suppliers to the business.
Lysa Hardy, chief commercial officer, Holland and Barrett, commented: “While our business continues to expand internationally, Ireland continues to be an extremely important market for us and the new warehousing means will have the right infrastructure in place to service it efficiently.
She continued: “As well as this new warehouse expansion, we remain committed to introducing innovative new products and retail innovations in our Irish stores to benefit the shopping experience of both new users and loyal customers who have really made the business what it is today.”
