Stephens Expands. After a strong trading year in 2013 and continuing growth Stephens 
Fresh Foods have confirmed that they will be making a significant investment in the development of their business and adding and additional warehousing unit to their existing suite of buildings in Lordswood, Chatham.
This unit is on the same industrial estate as their existing buildings. Growth in volume business, and especially in sales of continental charcuterie, have meant that they have now outgrown their existing warehouse facility and will utilise almost all of the new unit space as a modern refrigerated warehouse. It will replace, entirely, the existing facilities. At this time there are no plans to employ any extra staff in the new warehouse.
The project to fit the building out has already begun and estimates suggest that the site will be ready for occupation in June of 2014. ‘Unit 10’ boasts 5,500 square feet of space (a small part of which is office facilities). The main part of the building will be enclosed and refrigerated. It will be fitted with appropriate racking and provide over 90 pallet spaces. This effectively trebles existing warehousing capacity.
It represents a large investment for Stephens but they believe the investment will help secure new customers and perhaps even new types of business. Company Chairman Steve Leadbitter commented “Expansion is always a tricky decision and the timing needs to be just right, but standing still is not an option. The other members of the board and I believe that we have timed this decision correctly”.
This move will mean some big changes and also provides the opportunity to redesign the existing ‘high risk’ production facilities and create more production capacity in the space left behind. Steve Leadbitter went on to say “This is another significant milestone in the history of the business. Change is always a little disturbing but I believe it is a really positive move. It demonstrates our commitment to the future and our belief in the strength of Stephens”.
The company sales office will also relocate to the new facility and the existing meeting room will be converted to a space for the Stephens technical team and will include facilities for more formalised training.
