LWC officially opens its most sustainable and advanced depot

LWC, the UK’s largest independent drinks wholesaler, has officially opened a new state-of-the-art distribution depot in Prescot, Merseyside.

The 74,500 sq ft site is more than double the size of LWC’s previous Widnes-based depot. The move follows more than a decade of steady growth in the region, with rising demand from local hospitality customers prompting the need for a larger, more efficient site that can better support their needs.

Built to BREEAM Excellent standard – one of the UK’s highest ratings for sustainable building design – the depot is LWC’s most environmentally advanced facility. The BREEAM framework assesses buildings against key measures such as energy efficiency, materials, waste reduction, and environmental impact.

As part of this commitment, the site features a 211 kWp solar PV system paired with 300 kWh of battery storage, which is expected to supply over 55% of the depot’s electricity needs. The system significantly reduces reliance on the grid and avoids over 40,000 kg of CO₂ emissions annually – equivalent to taking nine petrol cars off the road or planting more than 1,600 trees each year. Crucially, the battery system stores excess solar energy generated during the day, allowing the facility to operate sustainably around the clock.

This investment forms part of LWC’s wider ESG strategy, which includes reducing emissions across its distribution network, investing in low-carbon technologies, and embedding more sustainable practices into its day-to-day operations. It also directly supports the company’s ‘Headline Commitments’, launched earlier this year, which outline measurable goals across environment, people and community.

Scott Brady, depot manager at LWC Merseyside, said: “This new depot is a big step forward for our team and our customers. It gives us the space, systems and sustainability credentials to support the region’s hospitality sector with greater efficiency, faster turnaround, and even better service.”

The new site enables LWC to hold more stock locally, improve product availability, and streamline delivery operations.

LWC’s managing director Ebrahim Mukadam commented: “We’re proud to be investing in Knowsley – not only as a distribution hub, but as a community. This depot reflects the way we want to grow: responsibly, sustainably, and always with the customer at the centre.”

With 18 depots across the UK, LWC supplies more than 15,000 customers nationwide.