Holland & Barrett is investing €17.5 million in its Irish fulfilment operations over the next three years, as it prepares to move the processing of online orders for Irish customers from the UK to Ireland.
The investment forms part of an expanded partnership with Kildare-based logistics provider Road Truck Services (RTS), which has worked with the health and wellness retailer for eight years across warehousing, distribution, imports and customs. From 1 November, RTS will also handle fulfilment for Holland & Barrett’s Irish ecommerce business, with €8.2 million allocated to a new digital fulfilment model and €9.3 million relating to existing retail fulfilment operations.
The move will see more stock held closer to Irish customers, with local stockholding increasing by approximately €1.5 million to €4.7 million. The expanded operation is expected to handle around 328,000 orders and 1.8 million units annually.
For customers, the transition will mean the removal of the existing 5kg weight limit on online orders, alongside access to additional products from 34 Irish brands. Next-day delivery is also planned to launch on 1 December, extending the retailer’s ecommerce offering.
The investment comes as Holland & Barrett continues to grow its Irish business, where digital sales increased by 17.9% in its latest financial year, outpacing the 3.6% growth recorded across its stores. Overall revenue in the market rose by 6.2%, with approximately 2.8 million customers shopping with the retailer over the past year, including 300,000 online.
Vineta Bajaj, Group CFO at Holland & Barrett, said: “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 expanded partnership is expected to create around 20 additional roles at RTS, alongside six to ten indirect jobs and further agency support during peak periods, with recruitment focused on Kildare and the surrounding area.
Mick McConnell, Managing Director at Road Truck Services, said: “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.”
Holland & Barrett currently operates 70 stores across Ireland and employs 419 colleagues. The retailer has also been investing in its physical estate, with 90% of its Irish stores now modernised, including its recently opened Galway location.
