Sysco invests $100 million in Hemel Hempstead depot – largest in Europe

Sysco has announced plans to create its largest depot in Europe – in Hemel Hempstead – designed to offer a next-generation service to foodservice businesses across London and the South East.

Sysco is initially investing $100m in the new 475,000 sq ft site, which will be the first in the UK to benefit from the complete suite of technology and proprietary software currently in use at Sysco’s wholesale distribution operations in the United States. It is scheduled to be fully operational by the beginning of 2026.

As well as the benefits in customer service that the technology brings, the new premises will also add significant additional capacity to the existing network in the South East and aligns with Sysco’s ambition for growth in Great Britain.

The introduction of the depot will allow Sysco to store a more comprehensive range of fresh, frozen and ambient products locally, providing a faster response to customer demand.

Sysco will spend the next 18 months adapting the former Amazon site in Hemel Hempstead to make it suitable for foodservice operations. This will include introduction of frozen and chilled areas and sustainability improvements across the site.

Paul Nieduszynski, CEO of Sysco GB, said: “The new Sysco London depot is a next-generation site, unlike anything we’ve seen before. As the largest Sysco site in Europe, it will offer a more comprehensive service to independent customers in London and the surrounding areas. It takes foodservice wholesale in Britain to an entirely new level.

“For the first time, we will be able to introduce the full suite of technology that benefits Sysco customers in the United States. The size of the depot will also allow us to be more responsive to customer demand by holding a full range of products on the edge of Greater London. The combination of scale, cutting-edge technology, range and service will set a new standard for foodservice wholesale in the UK.”

Over the next 10 years, the new site will help contribute to the creation of 850 jobs.