Ocado on track for return to Andover two years after devastating fire
The company's new 'customer fulfilment centre' will employ 1700 people and should be open by the end of the year
Last updated 9th Feb 2021
Two years on from a devastating fire at their Andover depot, Ocado say they are on schedule to open their new 'customer fulfilment centre' later this year.
The fire in February 2019 raged for almost a week and at its peak more than 300 firefighters, including ones from Wiltshire, were involved in tackling it.
A report found that the cause was an electrical fault at a battery charging unit, but also highlighted a detection system failure and that staff had turned off sprinklers to try and manage the fire themselves.
Ocado said the fire cost them £110m while Hampshire fire and rescue service put the cost of fighting the huge fire at £132,000.
The fire created a considerable community emergency as well with around 100 residents living near to the Walworth Business Park being forced to evacuate, a 300 foot (500m) exclusion zone was put in place over fears that a giant gas cylinder might explode.
Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service described it at the time as "the largest commercial property fire and most dangerous we've ever been involved with".
No one was badly injured, but the delay in calling the emergency services meant that the 18-acre robot grocery distribution centre was completely destroyed.
The site had processed more than 30,000 online food orders each week and although Ocado set up a temporary base 400 jobs were lost.
In February last year the full effects of the fire became clear when the company announced a 27% fall in core earnings in the 12 months to 1 December 2019, meaning its losses were nearly five times as much as the previous year.
Rising from the ashes
Ocado say the new facility will employ around 1700 people across a variety of different roles, ranging from Personal Shoppers (our warehouse operatives) to Management as well as Engineers, Tech support and Drivers.
Roles have been made available to all those who worked at the site in 2019 and around 200 employees who worked there previously are planning to return to work at the new site.
All new and returning employees will receive a thorough induction and training at the new facility.
Matt Whitwell, General Manager, Ocado Group, commented:
“I am so proud of everyone at Ocado Group that has come together and put such a huge amount of time, effort and love into the last two years of rebuilding the Andover CFC. I would like to thank all my colleagues who have contributed to a project unlike any other, and a special mention to those in Delivery Operations who have continued to serve the local area throughout this time.
There is a huge emotional connection for so many of us returning to Andover seeking to capture the magic of what we had before, as well as improving our employee experience and operational effectiveness, wherever we can. We are almost there, and we cannot wait to open our doors and send out the first orders later in the year”.
The new centre is expected to open in the Autumn.