John Lewis depot will close, retailer confirms

A John Lewis distribution centre is set to close, the retailer has confirmed.

A spokesperson for John Lewis said the depot in Theale, Berkshire, was "no longer suitable" for the high number of deliveries the company manages.

They said the 75 employees - which are employed through a trust and known as partners - were being supported, with hopes many of them could be redeployed.

At the start of 2024, John Lewis said it was planning workforce cuts over the next five years to save money.

On Monday, a spokesperson said: "Our Theale delivery hub was opened decades ago, and is no longer suitable for the high volume of deliveries that we manage, which unfortunately means we've decided to close the site.

"Our focus is now on supporting our partners, including helping them apply for other roles.

"We've a strong local presence - with multiple John Lewis and Waitrose shops, plus our Waitrose head office and distribution centres - all of which regularly have roles available."

The spokesperson said the site would close on 19 July 2025.

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