Move to Nottingham - or lose your job

Uprooted: Boots warehouse will move to Nottingham, shedding some of its staff

More local workers are to become jobless as Boots Warehouse begins the closing down process.

The store, which employs over 130 local workers, has announced it will “slow down” its operations next month and will shut shop completely by the end of summer - so it can centralise to Nottingham.

Boots has declined to give an exact redundancy figure at this stage.

The employees who are lucky enough to keep their jobs will have to re-locate over 90 miles to the new site, where the central store is being set up.

A ‘for sale’ sign has not been erected at the Rochdale site.

Gavin Chappell, Supply Chain Director for Boots UK insisted that steps have been taken to keep as many staff as possible in employment.

He said: "In March 2006, Boots UK announced that it would be re-engineering its retail supply chain by creating a centralised automated order picking Distribution Centre in Nottingham and replacing its distribution centres with a similar number of cross-docking facilities.

“This new centralised facility, which employs 1,200 people, is now close to completion and therefore, Boots UK has just confirmed the timetable for the closure of the Rochdale Distribution Centre.

“By giving employees three years’ warning of these changes, Boots UK has been able to invest significantly in training and skills development for those affected; and has been able to look at redeployment within Boots and recruitment opportunities with other companies where possible."

The Warehouse will close before the end of September 2009.