AR Racking boosts B&Q’s seasonal logistics DC with a new 40,000 m² hub (Video)

• 24,200 pallet positions installed using the AR PAL system
• Greater capacity and product selectivity for the UK’s leading Home and Garden Living retailer

AR Racking, has completed the installation of its AR PAL racking system at the new B&Q seasonal distribution warehouse in Doncaster. The two-phase, 40,000 m² project equips the retailer with 24,200 pallet positions, purpose-built to absorb demand peaks and speed stock flows to stores nationwide.

B&Q sought a solution that combined high density with full product selectivity to handle fast-moving seasonal ranges. The company chose AR PAL, which offers rapid accessibility and can be tailored to CHEP UK pallets (1,200 × 1,000 mm) as well as the bulkier loads introduced in the second phase. In-rack sprinklers safeguard both goods and personnel.

Over the build period, Key Account Manager Mike Smyth and the AR Racking team worked hand-in-hand with lighting and fire-protection engineers, aligning construction schedules and minimising disruption. Mike Smyth added, “We adapted each task during the build to the required overall programme and clear, daily communication was key.”

The new installation multiplies B&Q’s storage capacity and streamlines order preparation for peak seasons, cutting internal travel and loading times. Its phased design also keeps the facility fully operational during future expansions or layout changes, strengthening the DIY chain’s logistical resilience.

“We entrusted the first phase to AR Racking because of their ability and willingness to work with every project partner,” says Jeff Tearall, Property Portfolio & Specifications Manager at B&Q. “In the second phase, completed early in 2025, AR refined the design and delivered the solution on schedule, which has supported us in fulfilling orders even more smoothly and efficiently.”

The success of the Doncaster hub reinforces AR Racking’s position as a strategic partner to the UK’s major Home and Garden Living retailers, providing scalable, safe solutions aligned with the demands of omnichannel distribution. Backed by its own industrial base and a global footprint, AR Racking continues to grow its portfolio of projects that blend advanced engineering with close customer collaboration.