National tool distributor Buck & Hickman is facing the closure of its 90,000sq ft distribution centre in Coventry.
The company's owner, Brammer, is looking to bring the Coventry business into its Wolverhampton distribution centre and Wythenshawe head office, with the possible loss of 85 jobs out of the total of 185 at the site.

Brammer said it was now in a 45-day consultation with staff.

In a statement it said: "The proposed consolidation would enable the company to better utilise the significant spare capacity and highly automated warehouse systems that exist in the Wolverhampton distribution centre, allowing streamlining of the stock holding, supply chain and logistics activities which are currently duplicated at the Coventry site.

"It would also enable the consolidation of all UK finance and administration activities at the Wythenshawe office further improving customer service and operational efficiency."

Brammer, the Europe-wide distributor of industrial maintenance and repair products and services, acquired Buck & Hickman from Travis Perkins in 2011. The company distributes hand and power tools and health and safety and personal protective equipment.

Buck & Hickman operates a nationwide network of 28 branches, and with 180 years of trading under its belt claims to have been the first major tool distributor in the UK.