Family-run business invests £2m in Newton Aycliffe distribution centre

Family-run warehousing, distribution and commercial property business Stiller has opened its new £2m facility in Newton Aycliffe.

The 40,000 sq ft palletised distribution centre, located at Aycliffe Business Park, is the largest of its kind in the North East.

The site has space for loading up to 32 vehicles at any one time, whereas Stiller’s previous system could load only eight vehicles at once.

Project managed by Darlington-based Wharton Construction, the scheme includes over 70 off-street parking spaces and a new open-plan office with room for more than 30 staff.

Stiller’s previous main office and distribution centre will now be converted and upgraded into additional warehousing space to accommodate its growing operation.

The company increased sales by over 20% to £14.8m in its latest financial results. Its workforce has risen from 149 to 174 staff in the last 12 months.

MD Matthew Stiller said: “We’re delighted to have moved into the new distribution centre, which is already improving our efficiency and service levels to our clients.

“We have built a bespoke facility which we’ve designed specifically for our palletised distribution business, and enables our drivers to off-load and re-load much quicker, both during our day-time shifts as well as through the night.”

He added: “We can have 32 lorries loading up at a time, when previously we could only have eight, so it makes for a much smoother and slicker operation.”

Stiller has now ploughed almost £9m into its business over the last three years, including a £750k investment in a 40,000 sq ft extension of its premises last year and over £5m on new vehicles.

Matthew continued: “Re-investing in the distribution side of the business has primarily been to enable us better cope with the rate of growth we’re currently experiencing.

“And while improving our distribution service, it is also creating more space for us to develop new and improved warehousing for business-to-business storage services.”

The new distribution centre takes up five acres of Stiller’s 22-acre footprint at Aycliffe Business Park.

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