SPAR distributor upgrades efficiency and reliability of IT capabilities, working a with consortium of suppliers during year-long project

James Hall, the SPAR distribution company for the North of England, has recently completed a £100,000 ICT infrastructure installation project at its distribution centre.

Communications systems integrator Amillan, who partnered with Networks First for the project, worked closely with retained mechanical and electrical engineer contractors Bowkers, and designed and implemented the infrastructure based around the requirements of James Hall.

James Hall, which was founded in 1863 and serves over 450 SPAR stores, identified a need for an efficient and reliable ICT infrastructure to ensure deliveries and orders are completed on time, and high customer satisfaction maintained.

Partner delivers eco-friendly resiliency

Amillan was selected as providing the best solution, and has subsequently installed two data centres on-site for resilience, with over 6km of fibre optical cable into the site in a high uptime data network, which serves the entire 35,000-square-metre site on the new location. 

Dominic Hall, IT director and member of the original Hall family, said: “Amillan worked closely with us from the planning stages, right through to the completion of the new build project. The technology installed means that we have the assurance of a reliable and well-maintained network and a backup data centre to ensure that our customers are taken care of at all times.”

The new build project, started last August, comprised a new build distribution centre a few miles from the centre’s original location in Preston, where it had stood for over 100 years. The new construction features several energy efficient technologies, such as the recycling of heat generated from the refrigerators to warm water for the underfloor heating used in the offices onsite. These technologies will reduce the company’s carbon emissions and drive down costs for the business.