Booker to trial Makro site as ‘dark hub’ for Premier stores

Wholesaler Booker is set to turn its Makro Stoke site into a delivered ‘dark hub’ to focus on its service to the entire Premier symbol group network, stated reports on Thursday (3).

The site will be converted into a delivered wholesale depot by the end of February. It will be the first branch under Booker’s reported trial of using delivered dark hubs – sites which will remain closed to the general public and retailers and will be used entirely as warehouse for delivery service. 

The conversion is expected to act as a major distribution centre for Premier stores, stated reports.

Customers of the old Makro site are able to use the Booker branch on Campbell Road, a 16-minute drive away.

The news of the trial comes a week after it was reported that Booker is set to impose a delivery fee at the end of February. From Feb 28, Premier and Family Shopper retailers will be charged £29.95 per delivery, with the fee increasing to £34.95 for non-symbol stores. Londis and Budgen stores remain unaffected.

The move by Booker is being met with mixed response with most retailers criticising the move amid rising energy costs.

“Energy costs have gone up by 50 per cent. Minimum wage is going to go up. Our contribution to National Insurance has gone up. Booker should know that as a business, we are struggling,” retailer Mos Patel told Asian Trader.

“To add on to that, they are now imposing delivery charges and that too a hefty one.”

While some retailers say they do understand that the wholesale giant is just trying to tackle the rising costs, the fact remains that all of them are left to take account of their business expenses due to these almost-overnight new charges.