ABP has signed a new 5-year lease and shipping agreement with Pets Choice Limited (Pets Choice) at Cardiff, anchoring a port-centric manufacturing operation in the port.
Pets Choice is a national supplier of pet products and has recently taken over the renowned Bob Martin brand. The property is a 125,000 sq. ft. dry bulk terminal on 7.8 acres and will be used to service the company’s cat litter operation. Located on Queen Alexandra Dock, the site will import raw material for processing and distribution to a wide range of national retailers. ABP will be providing stevedoring for vessel discharge operations and delivery into the store.
Speaking about the new deal, Andrew Harston, Director, Wales & Short Sea Ports, said: “We are delighted to have signed these new agreements with Pets Choice, and that they have chosen to retain the cat litter operation at Cardiff, safeguarding jobs in the region. Cardiff is already able to support a diverse range of cargoes, including dry bulks, but it is great we have been able to secure such a strong port-centric manufacturing customer here at the port.”
Phil Knowles, CFO and COO of Pets Choice comments, “This is an exciting new agreement with ABP that secures the future of our cat litter manufacturing base in Cardiff. The long-term nature of this agreement has allowed us to secure 18 permanent staff contracts and we hope that this number will increase with the growth of the business. A port-side location is vital for the production of our products, and we’re delighted to strengthen our commitment to Cardiff as the home of our cat litter brand, Felight.”
As part of its ongoing commitment to port-centric manufacturing, ABP has recently launched a tranche of 14 sites encompassing more than 1,000 acres of development land which can support the UK’s supply chain, manufacturing, and renewable energy sectors, and include opportunities at Cardiff, Newport and Port Talbot.
Source: ABP
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