Online food retailer Ocado celebrated the start of construction work on its second Customer Fulfilment Centre (CFC) with a groundbreaking ceremony attended by Tim Steiner, the company’s chief executive officer.

The £210m distribution facility, at IM Properties’ Birch Coppice Business Park in Dordon, North Warwickshire, is being built by construction firm Bowmer & Kirkland and is due to be completed in late 2012.

With a geographical footprint of 350,000 sq ft, the CFC will be able to handle 120,000 orders per week when it first opens, eventually increasing to 180,000 orders per week.

The new CFC will generate 2,000 jobs in the North Warwickshire and Tamworth areas and enable Ocado both to expand delivery coverage and increase order capacity in its current coverage area where it is experiencing strong customer growth.

Steiner said: “Ocado is entering a major new phase of development and expansion, which is incredibly exciting. We look forward to seeing our second CFC take shape over the coming months and being part of the local community.”