A NEW £15m supermarket distribution depot has officially been opened on the outskirts of Chester-le-Street.

The Co-operative Group’s chief executive Peter Marks performed the ceremony at the facility on the Drum Road Industrial Estate, between Birtley and Perkinsville.

The depot is now fully operational and employs more than 550 people, including drivers, warehouse operators and vehicle maintenance staff, as well as staff working in food retail administration and other parts of The Co-operative business.

The 280,000 square foot facility operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with a fleet of over 100 large goods vehicles and processes product orders at the rate of 500,000 cases per week for distribution to 260 Co-operative food stores across the north.

It replaces a long-established depot next door and has energy efficiency features including rainwater harvesting and movement-triggered office lights.

Mr Marks said: "The opening of this multi-million pound state-of-the-art depot marks another high point for The Co-operative Group in 2009, which has already seen us acquire the Somerfield chain and announce a 17 per cent rise in half-year profits.

"The Birtley depot has a number of energy-efficient features and boasts cutting edge equipment that enables the team to work more effectively. The depot is vital in ensuring our food stores throughout the region continue to give Co-operative customers the high level of product availability and service they expect, and I am delighted to declare the depot officially open."