Amazon will open a new 7,000 square metre distribution warehouse in County Armagh by the end of this year, the company has said.
Known as a delivery station, the Portadown site will create 20 new jobs and 100 driver “opportunities” and will be based in the Mahon Industrial Estate.
Amazon Logistics said its delivery stations “power the last mile of the order process” and help to speed up deliveries for customers in the Portadown area
Packages are shipped to a delivery station from neighbouring Amazon fulfilment and sortation centres, loaded into delivery vehicles and delivered to customers.
“We are excited to invest in the Portadown area with a new delivery station that will provide efficient delivery for customers, and create new jobs for the talented workforce,” Kerry-Anne Lawlor, Country Director for Amazon Logistics, said.
While the 20 jobs are permanent positions, while the driver position are aimed at “entrepreneurs the opportunity to build their own business delivering Amazon packages, as well as independent contractors the flexibility to be their own boss and create their own schedule delivering for Amazon Flex.”
The investment has been welcomed by MP for Upper Bann Carla Lockhart.
“More and more companies are recognising the merits in making this area a distribution hub, with a road network linking to main arterial routes to every corner of Northern Ireland, and beyond,” she said. “Amazon recognising this really puts the area on the map and I very much welcome this investment.”
Amazon is holding a virtual recruitment event on September 16 th for those interested in either roles.
The announcement follows the company’s decision to open its first fulfilment centre in the Republic of Ireland, creating 500 jobs.
The 630,000 square foot Dublin facility will hold millions of items to be picked, packed and shipped to customers across Ireland as well as the rest of Europe, Amazon said.
It also plans to open a second delivery station at Northwest Logistics Park, Ballycoolin, serving customers in Dublin and the surrounding areas.
