Kildare-based Road Truck Services (RTS) has secured an expanded three-year logistics partnership with Holland & Barrett as the health and wellness retailer announces a €17.5 million investment in its Irish fulfilment operations.
The agreement represents a significant boost for RTS, which has worked with Holland & Barrett for the past eight years, providing import, customs, warehousing and distribution services.
Under the expanded partnership, fulfilment of Holland & Barrett’s Irish online orders has moved from the UK to Ireland, with RTS taking on an increased role in managing the retailer’s domestic logistics operations from November 1.
The €17.5 million investment over the next three years includes €8.2 million for a new digital fulfilment model and €9.3 million relating to existing retail fulfilment operations with RTS.
The expanded contract is expected to support approximately 20 additional jobs at RTS, alongside agency employment during peak periods and a further six to 10 indirect roles. Recruitment will focus on Kildare town and the surrounding areas.
The agreement will also see a significant increase in the volume of products handled through the Irish logistics network, with approximately 328,000 orders and 1.8 million units expected to be processed annually.
Holland & Barrett will hold an additional €1.5 million worth of stock in Ireland, bringing its total Irish stockholding to approximately €4.7 million.
For RTS, the expanded partnership represents another important milestone in the development of its warehousing and transport operations.
Mick McConnell, Managing Director of Road Truck Services, welcomed the agreement and highlighted the benefits of the long-standing relationship between the two companies.
“We’re incredibly proud of our partnership with Holland & Barrett, which has gone from strength to strength over the past eight years. Growing together has enabled us to expand our warehousing and transport capabilities, strengthen our business and secure other high-profile contracts.
“This latest investment marks an exciting new chapter in our relationship, creating jobs locally and allowing us to play an even bigger role in supporting Holland & Barrett’s growth in Ireland.”
The move to Irish-based fulfilment will also allow Holland & Barrett to expand its online product range, remove its previous 5kg order weight restriction and introduce additional products from 34 Irish brands. Next-day delivery is scheduled to launch on December 1.
The investment comes as Holland & Barrett continues to expand its Irish business, which now comprises 70 stores and employs 419 people nationwide.
The retailer recorded revenue growth of 6.2% in Ireland during its latest financial year, with digital sales increasing by 17.9%.
Vineta Bajaj, Group CFO at Holland & Barrett, said the expanded relationship with RTS would play an important role in the company’s continued growth.
“Our relationship with RTS has grown over eight years, and this next step means we can bring even more of our Irish operation closer to our customers. Holding more stock locally will help us deliver faster and offer greater choice and availability, while allowing us to continue investing in Ireland and building our presence in what is a very important market for us.”
The latest agreement further strengthens RTS’s position in the Irish transport and logistics sector, providing additional employment opportunities and increased activity across its warehousing and distribution operations in Kildare.
