Play Open
Blog
Industrial Storage solutions

CEF Customer Fulfilment Centre

  • Client CEF
  • Date August 2023
  • Sector Industrial Storage Solutions
  • Location Dartford

The CEF Dartford project was initiated to strategically support local branches across the region by establishing a centralized Customer Fulfilment Centre (CFC) with increased storage capacity and a broader operational scope. The core objective was to alleviate logistical pressure on the primary CEF Online distribution site in Biggleswade, ensuring enhanced product availability and a more efficient customer journey.

This facility not only serves as a critical regional hub but also acts as a foundational template for future CFC developments. With ambitions to expand the network of CFCs across London and eventually nationwide, the Dartford site has been designed to embody the operational standards and visual identity of the “CEF Look”—a consistent brand and functional experience for both internal teams and customers.

Through this project, CEF aims to streamline supply chain operations, improve service levels across its network, and lay the groundwork for scalable, future-ready infrastructure that supports long-term growth.

As part of the fit-out, we delivered a new customer reception area featuring a bespoke curved counter with integrated remote access control. Following extensive design development and refinement, this counter has now been established as the standard model for use in future CFCs and branches, forming a key element of the evolving “CEF Look.” The interior fit-out also included the construction of a manager’s office, a fully equipped kitchen and breakout area, and a spacious boardroom to support day-to-day operations and staff welfare.

As outlined earlier, the core objective of the project was to significantly increase storage capacity for the surrounding branches. To achieve this, our industrial fitters extended the existing two-tier concrete mezzanine, enabling it to accommodate approximately 2,000 tote boxes, nearly 80 cable drums, 70 stillages, and more than 600 pallet spaces. Additional dedicated storage areas were also created for containment products, LED batons—which require horizontal storage—and specific customer orders, ensuring efficient organisation and easy access.

"This project will enable CEF to enhance it’s customer proposition by offering new services and capabilities. Increased storage space to support our branches with larger call off orders and by effectively using the space at Dartford, this allows us to store more project focussed products and gives us the flexibility to pick and pack them to suit our customers needs.  SDE have been superb to work with, from design through to completion. There are inevitably challenges and hurdles on projects like this, but a true measure of a good partner, is how well these things are dealt with, and SDE are agile and flexible enough to find a solution and deliver on time!"

-Chris Young - CEF

Despite several challenges encountered throughout the project, we completed the handover to the client with a great sense of pride. Most rewarding of all was the client’s genuine gratitude and satisfaction—underscoring the success of the project and the value it delivered.