This week, we visited JJ’s new Dagenham site, just a stone’s throw from Dagenham Dock railway station and the River Thames.
Despite only opening three weeks ago, the branch has certainly caught the attention of local businesses and families. Not surprising when the eye-catching red and blue branding adds a splash of much-needed colour to an otherwise bleak industrial park.
At 15 metres high, the warehouse is the tallest of all JJ’s eleven sites and has the potential to become one of the busiest. Space that was originally allocated to hold stock for other branches has now been re-allocated to Dagenham to satisfy local demand – the business is growing, fast.
Warehouse racking is stacked sky high with fast-moving lines; soft drinks and frozen products are doing particularly well.
There are many categories that have huge potential – particularly frozen fish. Local chippies are already spending thousands of pounds per shop at the branch and once the field sales teams hit the streets, there’s no doubt that others will follow suit.
The depot is the second to offer a new, super-convenient collection model. Shoppers place their order the usual way, online, via telesales or in person for collection. Their shopping is prepared on a trolley, ready for collection from the pick-up zone.
It’s just like shopping at a supermarket – but someone else is doing all the picking! Aston is the only other branch to successfully use this model. The process should take less than five minutes, if you order in advance.
Soon, customers will be able to place their order on iPads installed in the customer comfort zone – it’s all part of the plan to create a first-class shopping experience. There’s lots going on at this branch – why not visit it yourself?
No doubt it will take a serious bite out of London’s food and drink wholesale market.
[Image caption] Branch manager Halil Canci gives our Head of Communications Elit Rowland a tour of the Dagenham site
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