Kent Foods has signed a major 10-year lease worth over £20 million for a 150,000 sq ft state-of-the-art temperature-controlled warehouse at DP World’s London Gateway Logistics Park, enhancing supply chain efficiencies through a port-centric, sustainable facility within Thames Freeport. This milestone coincides with DP World’s £1 billion expansion plans to boost UK trade capacities.
DP World and Kent Foods have solidified a major logistics partnership with a £20 million-plus deal to establish a new, cutting-edge storage facility at London Gateway Logistics Park. The 10-year lease agreement sees Kent Foods, part of The Albex Group and a prominent European supplier of food products, take occupancy of a 150,000 square foot warehouse. This deal marks a significant milestone in the ongoing growth of DP World’s UK operations, with Kent Foods officially taking possession of the site on 27 February.
The warehouse, completed last year, perfectly embodies modern logistics innovation and sustainability. It is equipped with temperature-controlled freezer units suitable for storing a diverse range of food products including chocolate, sugar, and cooking oils. Sustainability credentials are particularly noteworthy: the facility boasts both a BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ rating and an EPC ‘A’ rating, reflecting its commitment to environmental standards. Features such as 12.5m eaves, extensive docking options, a large yard, rooftop solar photovoltaic panels generating 20% of the site’s power, and a 100% certified renewable power supply underline the facility’s advanced design.
Strategically positioned within Thames Freeport—a designated special economic zone aimed at boosting trade and investment—Kent Foods benefits from exceptional logistical advantages. The location provides direct access to London and the Southeast’s consumer markets, supported by financial incentives including employer National Insurance savings and capital allowances on investments. These benefits align with the UK government’s broader aims to foster economic regeneration and streamline trade via port-centric solutions.
Alan Holland, Chief Executive Officer of London Gateway Logistics Park, highlighted the significance of this partnership, stating that Kent Foods will be well placed to utilise the financial advantages of Thames Freeport alongside London Gateway’s extensive rail and road connectivity. Holland emphasised that demand for DP World’s Thames Estuary site is growing strongly, with customers increasingly recognising the comprehensive supply chain and commercial capabilities the park offers across the UK.
From Kent Foods’ perspective, Maciej Szczygiel, Managing Director for the South East Region at Albex Logistics, expressed excitement about the new logistics centre, stressing how the port-centric facility will enable faster “port-to-production” timelines for imported raw materials. This, in turn, allows the company to improve service to UK food manufacturers and accelerate exports of finished food products globally. Michael Dalglish, Albex Group Operations Director, added that this facility represents a critical step in delivering innovative, sustainable, and efficient food industry logistics solutions.
The partnership benefits from the expert advice of global real estate advisor Avison Young, who represented Kent Foods throughout the acquisition. DP World’s logistics ecosystem extends beyond London Gateway, incorporating hubs at Southampton and offering integrated services including forwarding and European transport. The company operates a globally connected network spanning 78 countries and handles approximately 10% of global containerised trade, underlining its role as a key driver of supply chain efficiency worldwide.
This development takes place amid DP World’s wider ambitious plans to expand London Gateway significantly. DP World has announced a £1 billion investment to transform London Gateway into Britain’s largest container port within five years. This expansion involves constructing two new shipping berths, bringing the total to six, along with a second rail terminal to support rising container volumes. The site, already a catalyst for economic regeneration in south Essex, will accommodate the world’s largest container ships and enhance the UK’s international trade capacity and resilience. The expansion will also create an additional 400 permanent jobs, complementing the existing workforce of 1,200.
The Kent Foods deal, situated within this broader picture of growth and modernisation, reflects the increasing trend of logistics operators and food suppliers embracing high-tech, sustainable, and strategically located infrastructure to meet evolving supply chain needs in a competitive global market.
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Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://logistics-manager.com/dp-world-london-gateway-logistics-park-secures-kent-foods-deal-fueling-continued-growth/ – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.dpworld.com/news/releases/dp-worlds-london-gateway-logistics-park-continues–growth-with-kent-foods-deal/ – DP World and Kent Foods have signed a deal exceeding £20 million to establish a new storage facility at London Gateway Logistics Park. Under the 10-year lease agreement, Kent Foods, part of The Albex Group, will occupy a 150,000 sq. ft warehouse to store food products arriving at London Gateway’s container port before being distributed throughout the UK by rail and road. Kent Foods took occupation on 27th February. Construction was completed last year, and temperature-controlled freezer units have now been installed to accommodate a wide array of goods, including chocolate, sugar and cooking oils. The warehouse has been built to the highest sustainability standards, having been awarded both a BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ and EPC ‘A’ rating. Alan Holland, Chief Executive Officer of London Gateway Logistics Park, said: “We are delighted to welcome Kent Foods as our newest customer to London Gateway Logistics Park, marking yet another key growth milestone for our operations and for DP World in the UK. Kent Foods will be able to leverage the full financial benefits of Thames Freeport and London Gateway’s rail terminal and extensive road links. We are going from strength to strength as customers continue to choose DP World and our well-connected site on the Thames Estuary as the best place to support their supply chain journeys and UK-wide commercial operations.” Maciej Szczygiel, Managing Director for the South East Region at Albex Logistics, said: “Kent Foods are excited to take entry into their new logistics centre at London Gateway Logistics Park, which will be managed for them by fellow Albex Group member, Albex Logistics South East. The industry-leading facilities at this port-centric location will enable Kent Foods to further improve their service to UK food manufacturers by reducing port-to-production timelines for imported raw materials and speeding up the export of finished foodstuffs around the globe.” Michael Dalglish, Albex Group Operations Director, added: “Kent Foods and Albex Logistics are fully focused on delivering innovative, sustainable, and efficient solutions for the food industry. This facility at London Gateway is yet another major contribution to this objective.” Located within Thames Freeport, a special economic zone designed to boost trade and investment, Kent Food’s new storage facility will benefit from the hub’s strategic location. The Freeport offers direct access to London and the Southeast consumer market while providing businesses with financial incentives, including employer National Insurance savings and capital allowances on investments. Global real estate advisor Avison Young represented Kent Foods throughout the acquisition. In addition to its hubs at Southampton and London Gateway, DP World’s end-to-end solutions include logistics, forwarding and European transport capabilities, all seamlessly integrated into the company’s global network. Operating in 78 countries, DP World handles 10 per cent of global containerised trade, driving supply chain efficiency worldwide.
- https://www.logisticsmatters.co.uk/news/kent-foods-secures-london-gateway-warehouse/ – Foodstuff supplier Kent Foods has signed a £20 million deal to establish a new warehouse at DP World’s London Gateway Logistics Park scheme in the Southeast. Under the 10-year lease agreement, Kent Foods – a part of The Albex Group – will occupy LG150, a 150,000 ft2 warehouse, to store food products arriving at London Gateway’s state-of-the-art container port before being distributed throughout the UK by rail and road. Construction of the speculative unit was completed last year, and temperature-controlled freezer units have now been installed to accommodate a wide array of goods, including chocolate, sugar and cooking oils. The warehouse has been built to the highest sustainability standards, having been awarded both a BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ and EPC ‘A’ rating. It has 12.5m eaves, 18 dock and two level access, a 50m yard, as well as 20% rooftop solar PVs, 400KvA of power and 100% Certified Renewable Power Supply. Albex Logistics Managing Director for the South East Region Maciej Szczygiel, said: “The industry-leading facilities at this port-centric location will enable Kent Foods to further improve their service to UK food manufacturers by reducing port-to-production timelines for imported raw materials and speeding up the export of finished foodstuffs around the globe.” Alan Holland, Chief Executive Officer of London Gateway Logistics Park, said: “Kent Foods will be able to leverage the full financial benefits of Thames Freeport and London Gateway’s rail terminal and extensive road links.” Avison Young represented Kent Foods throughout the acquisition. Savills and Glenny are joint agents on London Gateway.
- https://trans.info/en/kent-foods-logistics-408273 – Kent Foods has opened a new 150,000-square-foot storage facility at DP World’s London Gateway Logistics Park under a 10-year lease agreement worth over £20 million. The facility, which became operational on 27 February, will be used to store imported food products—including chocolate, sugar and cooking oils—before distribution across the UK by rail and road. Kent Foods is part of The Albex Group, and day-to-day operations at the site will be managed by Albex Logistics South East. Located within the Thames Freeport zone, the warehouse benefits from various financial incentives, such as employer National Insurance savings and capital allowances on investments. Its port-centric location offers direct access to London and the South East, while also connecting to rail services and the national road network.
- https://indiashippingnews.com/dp-worlds-london-gateway-logistics-park-continues-growth-with-kent-foods-deal/ – DP World and Kent Foods, one of Europe’s leading suppliers of foodstuffs, have signed a deal in excess of £20m to establish a new storage facility at London Gateway Logistics Park. Under the 10-year lease agreement, Kent Foods – a part of The Albex Group – will occupy a 150,000 sq. ft warehouse to store food products arriving at London Gateway’s state-of-the-art container port before being distributed throughout the UK by rail and road. Kent Foods took occupation on 27th February. Construction was completed last year, and temperature-controlled freezer units have now been installed to accommodate a wide array of goods, including chocolate, sugar and cooking oils. The warehouse has been built to the highest sustainability standards, having been awarded both a BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ and EPC ‘A’ rating. Alan Holland, Chief Executive Officer of London Gateway Logistics Park, said: “We are delighted to welcome Kent Foods as our newest customer to London Gateway Logistics Park, marking yet another key growth milestone for our operations and for DP World in the UK. Kent Foods will be able to leverage the full financial benefits of Thames Freeport and London Gateway’s rail terminal and extensive road links. We are going from strength to strength as customers continue to choose DP World and our well-connected site on the Thames Estuary as the best place to support their supply chain journeys and UK-wide commercial operations.” Maciej Szczygiel, Managing Director for the South East Region at Albex Logistics, said: “Kent Foods are excited to take entry into their new logistics centre at London Gateway Logistics Park, which will be managed for them by fellow Albex Group member, Albex Logistics South East. The industry-leading facilities at this port-centric location will enable Kent Foods to further improve their service to UK food manufacturers by reducing port-to-production timelines for imported raw materials and speeding up the export of finished foodstuffs around the globe.” Michael Dalglish, Albex Group Operations Director, added: “Kent Foods and Albex Logistics are fully focused on delivering innovative, sustainable, and efficient solutions for the food industry. This facility at London Gateway is yet another major contribution to this objective.” Located within Thames Freeport, a special economic zone designed to boost trade and investment, Kent Food’s new storage facility will benefit from the hub’s strategic location. The Freeport offers direct access to London and the Southeast consumer market while providing businesses with financial incentives, including employer National Insurance savings and capital allowances on investments. Global real estate advisor Avison Young represented Kent Foods throughout the acquisition. In addition to its hubs at Southampton and London Gateway, DP World’s end-to-end solutions include logistics, forwarding and European transport capabilities, all seamlessly integrated into the company’s global network. Operating in 78 countries, DP World handles 10 per cent of global containerised trade, driving supply chain efficiency worldwide.
- https://www.dpworld.com/news/releases/logistics-giant-dp-world-to-boost-uk-trade–with-1bn-expansion-of-london-gateway/ – Global logistics giant DP World has today announced a £1bn expansion of London Gateway to make it Britain’s largest container port within five years in a boost to the volume and resilience of international trade. DP World will increase capacity of London Gateway’s port by building two new shipping berths, taking the total to six berths able to receive the world’s largest container ships. The site will also see a second rail terminal added to handle the expected increase in containerised trade. By the end of the decade, the full quayside stretching more than 2.5km in length will be able to simultaneously receive six vessels, each more than 400 metres long, and boast Europe’s tallest quay cranes at the height of the Big Ben. The expansion will create a further 400 permanent new jobs, in addition to the 1,200 currently employed at the site, and is the culmination of a rapid growth plan for the Thames Estuary hub which opened in 2013 and has been a catalyst for economic regeneration in south Essex.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative is based on a press release issued by DP World on 7 April 2025, detailing the partnership with Kent Foods. ([dpworld.com](https://www.dpworld.com/news/releases/dp-worlds-london-gateway-logistics-park-continues–growth-with-kent-foods-deal/?utm_source=openai)) The earliest known publication date of substantially similar content is 3 April 2025, as reported by Port Technology International. ([porttechnology.org](https://www.porttechnology.org/news/dp-world-kent-foods-establish-new-storage-facility/?utm_source=openai)) The report has been republished across various reputable outlets, including Logistics Manager and Trans.info, indicating high freshness. ([trans.info](https://trans.info/en/kent-foods-logistics-408273?utm_source=openai)) The press release nature of the content typically warrants a high freshness score. No discrepancies in figures, dates, or quotes were identified. The narrative includes updated data and quotes, justifying a higher freshness score.
Quotes check
Score:
10
Notes:
The direct quotes from Alan Holland, Maciej Szczygiel, and Michael Dalglish are consistent across multiple reputable sources, including the original press release and subsequent reports. ([dpworld.com](https://www.dpworld.com/news/releases/dp-worlds-london-gateway-logistics-park-continues–growth-with-kent-foods-deal/?utm_source=openai), [porttechnology.org](https://www.porttechnology.org/news/dp-world-kent-foods-establish-new-storage-facility/?utm_source=openai)) No variations in wording were found, indicating the quotes are accurately reproduced.
Source reliability
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative originates from a press release issued by DP World, a reputable global port operator. The report has been covered by multiple reputable outlets, including Port Technology International and Trans.info, indicating high reliability. ([porttechnology.org](https://www.porttechnology.org/news/dp-world-kent-foods-establish-new-storage-facility/?utm_source=openai), [trans.info](https://trans.info/en/kent-foods-logistics-408273?utm_source=openai))
Plausability check
Score:
10
Notes:
The claims regarding the £20 million deal, the 150,000 sq. ft warehouse, and the strategic location within Thames Freeport are consistent with information from multiple reputable sources. ([dpworld.com](https://www.dpworld.com/news/releases/dp-worlds-london-gateway-logistics-park-continues–growth-with-kent-foods-deal/?utm_source=openai), [porttechnology.org](https://www.porttechnology.org/news/dp-world-kent-foods-establish-new-storage-facility/?utm_source=openai)) The narrative includes specific factual anchors, such as names, institutions, and dates, enhancing its credibility. The language and tone are consistent with typical corporate communications, and the structure is focused and relevant to the claim.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is based on a recent press release from DP World, detailing a £20 million deal with Kent Foods for a new storage facility at London Gateway Logistics Park. The content is fresh, with consistent and accurate quotes, originating from a reliable source, and the claims are plausible and well-supported by specific details. No significant credibility risks were identified.
