The Co-operative Group has officially opened its new £25m state-of-the-art distribution centre in Newhouse, which will service 618 stores in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The 503,000sq ft multi-temperature depot, which is just off the M8 near Glasgow, will have an output of 60 million cases a year and will operate a fleet of 370 lorries.

It is expected to improve supply chain performance and store service, following the acquisition of Somerfield in 2009.

“Newhouse is the latest phase in the ongoing development of our logistics operation nationwide, which at the end of these major changes will mean we will have an efficient and modern logistics network that will reflect the Co-operative’s position as one of the UK’s ‘big five’ food retailers,” chief executive Peter Marks said.