Aldi is set to close its £64 million Sawley distribution centre in Derbyshire, just seven years after opening, as it consolidates logistics operations into a larger, more advanced facility in Bardon, Leicestershire.
The Sawley site, spanning 600,000 sq ft and employing 400 staff, has been servicing East Midlands stores since early 2020. The supermarket chain is planning a phased transfer of operations to the new Bardon site over the next two years. The Bardon facility, currently under development on a 72-acre former coalfield, will cover 1.3 million sq ft and is expected to be Aldi’s most energy-efficient and lowest carbon-density warehouse.
The move is part of Aldi’s broader strategy to support its UK expansion, which includes growing its footprint from over 1,000 stores to 1,500. The Bardon site is designed to improve efficiency, reduce supply chain costs, and strengthen logistics capacity in line with that growth. Aldi has confirmed that all current Sawley employees will be offered equivalent roles at the new site, which is located approximately 25 minutes away.
A collective consultation process with staff is due to begin soon. No final decisions will be made until that process concludes.
