More room for growth at Gist’s new Hemel Hempstead operation
May 2008
A long and sustained period of growth for one of Gist’s founding ambient storage and picking businesses GL Baker has led to the company’s recent move into a more modern, spacious site to service the south of the country.
Over the last 10 years, volumes of long life product processed from their previous 90000 square foot Hemel Hempstead site have quadrupled, with 8 million cases dispatched last year, and there are no signs of this growth slowing. Gist was also using a satellite site to overcome the need for additional space.
Outgrowing its existing warehouse, Gist has moved into a new site, also in Hemel Hempstead. The new site is 120000 square feet and twice the height of the previous premises. This has provided Gist with double the pallet handling capacity, additional loading bays, and employees are benefiting from a more comfortable and modern environment.
The move took place in late 2007 and was staged to ensure the smoothest transition possible. Smaller customers were moved during the week with larger customers moving on the weekends.
Gist is now benefiting from the efficiency of operating under one roof and has room to accommodate further growth. Moving all products from the same site has the additional benefits of reducing food miles as outgoing vehicles can be more efficiently utilised.
Paul Littmoden, account director, Gist, said: “The team at Hemel showed the highest levels of dedication and professionalism to make this transition virtually seamless for our customers, who are now enjoying the benefits of additional space and reduced food miles on their products.”
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Notes to Editors
About Gist
Gist combines leading edge experience and expertise to transform supply chains. With industry-specific understanding, know-how and excellence, Gist's solutions bring end-to-end visibility and implementation, from concept to delivery.
Gist's 5,000 employees operate out of 35 locations, providing a full range of intellectual and asset-based business offerings in the UK and continental Europe.
Gist is the largest importer of flowers into the UK and is the 6th largest contracts logistics company in the country.
Gist's customers (including British Airways, Marks & Spencer, Carlsberg UK, and Dutch Flower Group) operate in a wide range of commercial and industrial sectors, including grocery, electronics and gas.
As part of The Linde Group, with around 50,000 employees working in 100 countries worldwide, Gist also benefits from Linde's global capability, synergy and scale.
