Lingerie firm Triumph International is to close its Swindon distribution centre with the loss of around 70 jobs four years after it outsourced the operation to a major US logistics group.
Menlo, part of the giant Con-way group, took over running the warehouse on the Groundwell Industrial Estate, in June 2010. At the time it said it planned to use the depot as a springboard into the UK logistics market and would offer space in the building to other firms. 
All 118 Triumph warehouse workers were transferred to Menlo. At the time Menlo chief Tony Gunn described it as “a win-win situation, a positive solution for Triumph and business growth for Menlo based on delivering consistent performance, service improvement and waste elimination”.
But this week the 70 remaining workers at the warehouse were shocked to be told that Triumph is to bring its distribution back in-house from June but run it from an existing warehouse in France.
A Triumph spokesman said the decision to “in-source and streamline” its distribution activities were “in line with the company’s global objectives regarding cost and efficiency”.
The job losses are another blow for Swindon following car giant Honda’s announcement that it is to axe around 500 jobs and close one of its two production lines at its giant South Marston plant.
It also means another long-established Swindon firm has drastically downgraded its operations in the town.
Triumph, which has its global headquarters in Switzerland, has had its UK base in Swindon for decades and at one time employed hundreds of female machinists in its factory at Groundwell making underwear. 
When manufacturing ceased it retained its warehouse and distribution centre at Groundwell. Its UK head office and sales department at Groundwell are not affected by the closure of the warehouse.
