John Lewis closes Blakelands distribution centre as it bets on automation
John Lewis has closed its Blakelands distribution centre after 40 years, as it moves to 640,000 sq ft automated development site Magna Park 3, also located in Milton Keynes.
Blakelands had formed a key part of the John Lewis department store and Waitrose supermarket UK logistics network, with another key hub located in Northampton and other regional sites.
"It is a bittersweet day as we formally complete the closure and final handover of the Blakelands National Distribution Centre," shared Sarah Payne, Head of Operations at John Lewis & Partners, on LinkedIn.
"While it is always sad to close a long-serving building, this move marks an exciting new chapter for our network. The closure is part of a move for groundbreaking automation development at Magna Park 3. This investment is key to future-proofing our operations and enhancing efficiency."
Payne added that the majority of Blakelands employees had secured other roles within the retailer's distribution network.
Payne stepped into the position of Head of Operations in February 2026, and notes on her LinkedIn that she has been tasked with the strategic development of the retailer's national distribution centre network. She is specifically working to "maintain cutting-edge automated solutions" and is also looking to implement new solutions that are set to go live in 2027.
John Lewis is in the process of undergoing a wider £800 million multi-year transformation programme, which has seen it embrace digital-first solutions across both its customer-facing and behind-the-scenes operations.
In March, the retailer announced that it was investing in AI-powered shopping, with the aim of integrating its products into emerging AI discovery platforms.
The integration, which is set to be introduced later this year, will see customers able to complete purchases through AI platforms such as Google Gemini and ChatGPT in "just a few steps".
As part of the retailer's efforts to prepare for AI-enabled shopping experiences, it has extended its partnership with commercetools to utilise new AI-driven commerce capabilities designed to support product discovery and transactions across third-party platforms.
Dom McBrien, Chief Digital & Omnichannel Officer at John Lewis, said: "Our customers are already using AI apps and discovery platforms to find products they love. These investments will mean that we are right there when customers are looking for ideas - and being able to quickly and easily buy in a few clicks is a gamechanger.
"We look forward to rolling out these functionalities and welcoming them into our omnichannel mix alongside our own app, website, and physical stores."
The same month, John Lewis announced a 90-day pilot on TikTok Shop, marking its latest step into new digital commerce channels. The trial featured a curated range of beauty and gifting products, timed to capture demand in the run-up to Mother’s Day.
Strategically, the retailer said the initiatives were intended to position the brand on platforms where customers increasingly look for product inspiration and discovery, while allowing purchases to be completed within the same environment.
Online retailer ASOS has also recently tapped into the AI hype, with the launch of an AI Stylist on ChatGPT last week.
The app, available in the UK and US, is called ASOS Stylist and goes beyond today's available AI shopping tools, according to the retailer. While it allows users to discover products through text and static images, the app also adds a more visual dimension by bringing video and livestream content directly into the chat.
Melissa Lim, Head of Product at ASOS, said: "Customers are increasingly turning to AI for shopping and style inspiration, but the experience can still feel fragmented and hard to visualise.
"ASOS Stylist brings fashion discovery, styling advice, and shoppable products together in one seamless, conversational experience. It’s an important step in how we're using AI to reduce friction and enhance the way customers shop with ASOS."
