The recruitment process has now begun for 100 roles at the Somerset site, which is due to open in April.
A further 300 jobs will also be created at the site, as the warehouse is extended to a packhouse where fruit and vegetables will be prepared before being distributed to Morrisons stores in the South West and Wales. This could happen before 2014 depending on growth, the firm revealed.
Morrisons said the move will take almost two million road miles out of the business each year.
Employment training
The firm has also said that it intends to recruit locally where possible and is providing pre-employment training for people to develop the skills required for the roles.
The training is being carried out in partnership with Bridgwater College, Somerset Skills and Learning, Job Centre Plus and Sedgemoor Council. Each candidate will attend the course for eight days to learn key skills before being invited to an assessment centre at the end of the course.
The news follows the completion of the Morrisons’ nearby Willow Green distribution centre, where 750 jobs have already been created.
Martyn Fletcher, group md, said: “Having our manufacturing site so close to our regional distribution centre for the area will reduce food miles and improve our strong environmental credentials.
“We are delighted to be creating these jobs in Bridgwater and hope to be able to fill a large proportion of them with suitable local candidates.”