ScottishPowers new £5m retail distribution and service centre in the Eurocentral complex at Mossend near Glasgow was formally opened today (Tuesday 24 February) by Brian Wilson MP, Scottish Minister for Education and Industry.

Chief Executive Ian Robinson showed Mr Wilson around the 12-acre site which comprises 120,000 square feet of warehousing, repair facilities and support offices. It can store around 20,000 major electrical appliances.

ScottishPower is the UK's third largest electrical retailer with more than 160 high street stores and superstores throughout the UK. Operating profit in 1996-97 totalled more than £14 million on sales of £268 million.

The centralised Mossend depot, which replaced three outmoded regional facilities, is designed to speed both deliveries and repairs.

It employs almost 300 people, an increase of 30 over the previous number of warehousing and repair staff. They will handle around 5000 customer deliveries, 9000 telephone calls and more than 2000 repairs every week.

The newly developed Eurocentral, part of Lanarkshire Enterprise Zone, was chosen because of its integrated transport links, allowing ScottishPower to receive goods from Europe and the South of England by motorway or rail.

Mr Robinson said: "Over the past few years ScottishPower has expanded steadily in the highly competitive electrical retail market and this impressive facility at Mossend will help ensure that our level of customer service is second to none."