It’s been a year since STI opened our European Distribution Hub in Waterford, Ireland, and the progress has been extraordinary. What started as an empty 420 square metres of warehouse and storage, and 100 square metres of office space is now filled with new staff and stock!
Opened to resolve difficulties surrounding Brexit and issues for European customers, the hub has proven to be a more efficient and seamless process, from ordering to delivery of goods to Europe.
Products continue to be produced in the UK and shipped to Ireland for European customers’ ease, but we also build stock in Ireland as the company continues to grow and our Irish team expands.
We have recruited and trained local staff to produce and dispatch orders from the Waterford hub. Our branch manager, Richard Gaffney, has been at the Hub since it’s opening, with dispatch coordinator Sean Browne joining a week later. Marie Hennessy (shipping co-ordinator) joined a few weeks later in July. More recently, Marie has taken on additional purchasing and stock control duties for the UK office in addition to the Irish office.
Managing Director, Steve Hunt commented, “When we decided to open our Ireland Branch, I was concerned for the reliability of service for our European Market, as we were breaking new ground and setting up an almost autonomous manufacturing and distribution hub in a different country. However, it is testament to our staff in the UK, who assisted in the initial setup of the hub and were prepared to stay in Ireland for several months whilst we sourced new staff to train. We were very lucky to secure the services of our branch Manager Richard Gaffney, who is a dedicated and very reliable member of the Management team. Further good fortune followed, with the employment of Sean Browne and Marie Hennessy who are equally dedicated and reliable members of team Ireland. Because of our excellent staff – both in Ireland and the UK, the setup and operation process has run extremely smoothly, and I look forward to building upon the solid foundations created during the past year.”
STI are continuing our growth over the coming years, constantly looking for more opportunities to expand our reach while maintaining quality service and ease for all customers.
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