Independent Paper, a subsidiary of Denmaur Papers, hopes the move will bring cost savings and increase efficiency in its network.
Following the closure, all deliveries to Yorkshire, Lancashire and other areas in northern England will be undertaken by Independent Paper’s Bardon central distribution facility.
Independent Paper managing director Mike Gee said: “In order to maintain our independence and retain our competitive position in the marketplace, we are making the changes to provide a low-cost, customer-focused logistics model for the future.”
It is understood that redundancies among the facility’s eight staff are likely.
However, branch manager Paul Jackson and outside salesman Ken Brown will continue to operate from Independent Paper’s Warrington offices, while branch director Ron Turner and inside salesman Bill Irwin will operate in Yorkshire.
The move reflects ongoing restructuring elsewhere in the merchant sector. Howard Smith Paper, for instance, is currently closing six of its nationwide branches and merging them into its six other sites.
The news comes nine months after Independent Paper opened the Bardon, Leicestershire facility, which acts as a central warehouse for the merchant.
Independent Paper has a total of 40 staff and runs operations in Swanley, Kent and Warrington, Cheshire.
Independent Paper to close Wakefield site
Rationalisation in paper distribution took another step this week as merchant Independent Paper revealed plans to close its Wakefield warehouse later this summer.
