Leeds-based retail logistics firm Clipper Logistics said on Thursday it has entered into an agreement with online luxury fashion retailer Farfetch to provide pan-European “e-fulfilment and returns management services” from a new facility in Venray, Netherlands.

“Farfetch is the leading global platform for the luxury fashion industry, which sells products from over 1,300 luxury boutiques and brands from around the world on its marketplace,” said Clipper.

“Clipper will be providing e-fulfilment and returns management services from a new site in the Netherlands and will support all of Farfetch’s European activities from that facility.

“The new contract will see operations commence in April 2021 and is for an initial term of five years.

“Clipper anticipates that it will employ 600 personnel at the site, and the facility will have a stockholding capacity of over 2 million units of high-end apparel.

“This represents a significant extension of Clipper’s trading activities in mainland Europe.

“The group already has eight distribution centres in Germany and Poland, employing over 1,500 colleagues.

“The new contract will represent organic growth of nearly 30% in Clipper’s European operations when fully functional, as well as our first site in the Benelux region.”

Clipper executive chairman Steve Parkin said: “Farfetch is an outstanding company with whom we are proud to have a growing relationship.

“This new contract facilitates our mutual growth aspirations and represents a significant extension of Clipper’s European footprint, one of our key strategic growth areas.”