Online grocer Ocado has signed for a new distribution spoke in south west London with capacity for 14,200 orders per week.

Ocado will lease a two-acre site in Wimbledon featuring two warehouses totalling 38,500 sq ft. It will create up to 190 new jobs.

Ocado will start work on upgrading the warehouses immediately, with the spoke site set to open in late May. At peak capacity, the new distribution spoke will serve existing delivery geography and take capacity from its regional sites in Weybridge, Surrey and Dartford, Kent. It will operate 60 vans, adding to its current fleet of 770 delivery vehicles.

The new spoke site is part of the Crown Estate and will primarily serve the south west London area and immediate surroundings.

Tim Steiner, chief executive of Ocado, said: “The new Wimbledon distribution spoke site will not only help us grow our customer base in south London but will free capacity at the existing Ocado sites in Weybridge and Dartford and enable them to grow further too. We are pleased to be extending our service in London and creating more local jobs. We remain as focused as ever on improving the customer offer, and delivering both service satisfaction and strong growth.”

Earlier this month Ocado reported gross sales up 29% to £551.1m in the year to November 28. It reported a pre-tax profit in the fourth quarter.

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