Why has CCEP Spent Millions on ASRS for its Wakefield site?

Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (CCEP) has announced its intention to create a new Automated Storage Retrieval System (ASES) warehouse at its site in Wakefield. 

The manufacturer's site in Wakefield, West Yorkshire is it's largest soft drinks plant by volume in Europe.

CCEP is also the world's largest independent bottler of Coca-Cola.

The ASRS CCEP plans to build will stand at 38 metres tall, maximising space to increase Wakefield's warehouse capacity. 

This will subsequently allow the facility to hold and move an additional 29,500 pallets, more than doubling its current capacity of 29,000.

The ASRS will also reduce 18,500 vehicle journeys per year from the road, journeys which equate to 441,000km per year.

This not only saves on production costs but also enhances sustainability by reducing supply chain emissions. 

Expected to take two years to build, the ASRS will follow CCEP's installation of a new state-of-the-art canning line across its sites. 

This canning line, operational since July of this year, is capable of producing a staggering 2,000 cans per minute. 

The line enhances production capabilities overall for light-weight 330ml cans across CCEP brands like Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, Fanta, Dr Pepper and Sprite.

“The new ASRS warehouse ensures we continue expanding our production capabilities as we look to the future and operate as efficiently and sustainably as possible," says Vanessa Smith, Director of Wakefield Supply Chain Operations at Coca-Cola Europacific Partners.

“This follows on from the installation our state-of-the-art canning line, which became operational this summer.

"In addition to improving the sites capabilities of our lightweight cans, the new line and latest investments underscore our commitment to our Wakefield site and the 550 strong workforce who work here.”

Boosting manufacturing careers in Wakefield 

In addition to building a new ASRS system, CCEP is also investing in Wakefield's manufacturing sector with investment and a new approach to recruitment. 

Driven by its ‘Everyone is Welcome’ ethos, the manufacturer has also been evolving its approach to recruitment, prioritising vital attributes, skills and potential as opposed to formal experience or qualifications. 

This increases opportunity in the manufacturing sector and highlights CCEP's desire to grow and invest in the workforce during a time of uncertainty surrounding recruitment. 

So far this approach has demonstrated success. In its 550-strong workforce at Wakefield, more women than ever before are joining its new canning line.

Three out of four of the line's team leaders are women, with a total 40/60 women to men gender ratio.

“Wakefield offers a range of modern manufacturing jobs and sits at the heart of many of our latest manufacturing technologies," says Stephen Moorhouse, Vice-President and General Manager, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners (GB).

"We’ve invested more than £100m (US$125m) since 2019 to help us evolve operations on site and further support the local economy.”

Wakefield is also making strides in terms of sustainability and efficiency.

The site has received millions in investment which 2019, which its used for initiatives such as the sustainable replacement of its material handling equipment. 

A fleet of 75 gas-powered forklift trucks used to move product around the site were also replaced with electric units powered by lithium ion batteries, eradicating their daily carbon emissions.

“CCEP continues to play an important role in and around Wakefield," adds Simon Lightwood MP for Wakefield and Rothwell.

"It’s fantastic to see the business invest in delivering more efficient and sustainable operations, which shows the organisations commitment to being a major employer in West Yorkshire.”

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