£23million new Vantec warehouse will create more than 100 jobs

The warehouse on the Hill Thorn Business Park next to Nissan was formally opened by the company’s president, Yokinobu Kodama, and Fumio Komamura, of parent company Hitachi Transport System Ltd.

The £23million, 436,000sq ft building is the first to open on the new park and will exclusively handle logistics work for Nissan, creating more than 100 jobs.

It brings Vantec and Hitachi Transport System’s investment in Sunderland to almost £50million since 2012. The company opened another large scale, 417,000sq ft. warehouse on Turbine Business Park to handle work for Nissan three years ago.

Vantec Europe managing director Martin Kendall said: “Our strategy is to get all the warehousing for Nissan as close to the plant as possible to reduce logistics costs.

“The long term plan allows us to deliver cost-effective logistics solutions to our customer.

“It shows the company’s confidence in the North East, especially the Sunderland area, and provides stability and the ability to invest in future growth.

“This is now the company’s 25th year in Sunderland and it is great to see our parent companies investing with a view for the next 25 years.

“We will be able to create a further 120 jobs over the next couple of years due to the creation of Hillthorn, and we are still on target to create the 234 jobs by 2017 following the investment in Turbine Business Park.”

City council chief executive Irene Lucas CBE said: “Vantec’s decision to build its new giant warehouse at Hillthorn Business Park and become the first company on the site is a significant statement of confidence in the city.

“It echoes the huge commitment and confidence shown by the Japanese parent company in Sunderland and the city’s ability to deliver growth and jobs. The building of this new warehouse is proof the company sees a long-term future in Sunderland, which is fantastic.”