By Liza Helps, Property Editor, Logistics Matters

COLUMBIA HAS entered a five year contract with Maersk to operate its UK and Ireland Pick & Pack business from Maersk’s existing multi-customer facility in Tamworth near Birmingham, UK. The dedicated space within Maersk’s Tamworth site will span approximately 86,000 ft2.

Maersk secured Tamworth 345 in 2022 from developer Panattoni as part of its contract logistics expansion plans. The speculatively built property boasts 345,414 ft2 of space with 15m eaves, 32 dock and two level access doors

The Tamworth operation will support a broad product portfolio including footwear, apparel, accessories and equipment, and will serve all sales channels – retail, wholesale and e- commerce.

The operation begins with initial volumes of approximately 1.6 million inbound and outbound units annually. This facility will fulfil all channels – e‑commerce, retail, and wholesale – and provide a full suite of value‑added services, supported by an inventory of roughly 25,000 SKUs (stock keeping units), and sufficient space to store inventory across multiple fulfilment streams. This new Maersk‑operated facility is a key enabler supporting Columbia’s growing market in the UK.

Columbia Sportswear EMEA Senior Vice President and General Manager Matthieu Schegg said: “Over the years, we’ve developed a strategic partnership with Maersk, and it is super important for us to partner up with professionals in the field of logistics due to the complex nature of our supply chain. We’ve reached the level of business in the UK where we can now set up a facility dedicated to this market to serve the consumers and the customers faster.”

Maersk Contract Logistics Chief Operating Officer Jason Walker added: ““This agreement reflects the continued momentum in our partnership with Columbia Sportswear and highlights the value of integrated logistics solutions. By moving fulfilment closer to the end market, we can support faster delivery times, improved flexibility and a more resilient supply chain.”