What started as a wine-fuelled trip to the south of France in the late 1960s soon turned into something much greater. Founded in 1969 by Robin Yapp, Yapp Brothers has grown into one of the UK's most respected family-run wine merchants, sourcing and importing fine wines from across Europe, South Africa, Argentina and beyond.
Over the years, the company has established a renowned reputation for sourcing high-quality wines with a unique story behind each one.
P90 Racking with boarding at Yapp Brothers
2024 - Trading Charm for Space
For years, operations were run from a beautiful, yet creaky Victorian warehouse. It had atmosphere by the case-load, but charm doesn't help much when you're trying to unload a lorry full of wine by hand.
Low roof trusses made vertical storage near impossible. Staff were spending hours shifting stock case by case. As customer orders continued to grow and the team expanded, it became clear that something had to change.
The Brief: More Room with Less Faff
Yapp Brothers needed a more scalable and efficient warehouse setup, one that could support their growing inventory, streamline operations, and make the working day a bit easier on both backs and schedules.
This is where we enter!
Two Warehouses, One Tailored Solution
Working closely with the team, Dexion helped to design a bespoke racking system across two newly kitted-out spaces.
- The main warehouse was fully racked to handle full pallet loads, with stacks reaching up to five pallets high over two levels.
- The temperature-controlled warehouse was fitted for archive stock and private client storage. This included boarded racking that could accommodate mixed cases, varied bottle formats, and long-term collections of wine, some dating back decades.
P90 racking system in both ambient and chilled environments
The Dexion team took the time to understand exactly how the space needed to function, from weight loads to picking patterns. We delivered a setup that ticked all of their boxes. Installation was carried out cleanly and on time, even while the wider business move was in full swing.
A working day transformed
The difference was immediate:
- Lorry unloads now take 60-90 minutes max, down from a full day's worth of work.
- Staff spend less time lifting boxes of wine (their backs are thankful), and more time doing the work that adds value.
- Customer fulfilment is a lot faster, and the business is better placed to grow in the coming future.
"Dexion was organised, professional, flexible and delivered on time. In a challenging year, they were one supplier who made life easy" - Tom Ashworth, CEO of Yapp Brothers.
Room to Grow (and Breathe)
For Yapp Brothers, moving into a modern warehouse wasn't just about laying the groundwork for the next chapter of their story. The new storage setup gives them the space and structure to continue doing what they love, at a scale that suits the future of the business.
Because wine deserves fine storage.