Atkinson & Kirby, the leading timber flooring company, which is part of the Archwood Group, is investing in a new warehouse and distribution operation and a new group commercial facility, to help create improvements in service to customers nationwide.

The plans will see flooring distribution move to the Archwood Group national distribution centre in Oswestry, Shropshire, where the group has made a substantial investment and created 25 new jobs in the past 12 months. This move will lead to the closure of a smaller facility in Ormskirk, Lancashire.

The plans will also see investment in a new group commercial facility in Chester, bringing together the commercial teams from Oswestry, Ormskirk and London into one unified centre, which will deliver greater customer focus and place an emphasis on innovation and development. The company’s Scottish business operating under the HFI brand is unaffected by the changes.

Bringing these Atkinson & Kirby operations into the Archwood group facilities will help to ensure highly responsive and competitive service levels for all customers.

Commenting on the plans, Archwood Group Chief Executive Steve Underhill, said: “Atkinson & Kirby was founded in 1903 and has a great heritage. This investment will mean that the future is even brighter for the brand over the next century. Sadly, the move means that the organisation will be leaving Ormskirk but we are confident the re-location of both the commercial functions and the warehousing and distribution operations will bring real benefits to customers.”

Subject to employee consultation, the proposed developments are due for completion by September 2015.

The Archwood group operates under the Atkinson & Kirby, Masons Timber Products and Richard Burbidge brands and is a £50 million market leader in the timber home improvement products market.