IT may have been taken over by an Essex brewer but distinguished brewery Tolly Cobbold still has a surprise up its sleeve.For it's a case of back to the future with the company's new owner TD Ridley and Sons Ltd moving the distribution centre back to a huge warehouse - where Tolly was based two decades ago!The warehousing and distribution business currently based at Cliff Road, Ipswich is to expand and move to a 45,000 square foot warehouse across the other side of town in Whitehouse Road.

IT may have been taken over by an Essex brewer but distinguished brewery Tolly Cobbold still has a surprise up its sleeve.

For it's a case of back to the future with the company's new owner TD Ridley and Sons Ltd moving the distribution centre back to a huge warehouse – where Tolly was based two decades ago!

The warehousing and distribution business currently based at Cliff Road, Ipswich is to expand and move to a 45,000 square foot warehouse across the other side of town in White House Road.

The move will create another six jobs, taking the employee level to 65.

It will also mark a full circle for Bob Wales, commercial director at TD Ridley and former Tolly managing director.

Mr Wales said: "This is good news for the town, with confirmation that not only is the warehousing and distribution business to stay in Ipswich but it is also to expand.

"As a result of our success in generating more business we have agreed terms to relocate our warehouse and distribution centre from Cliff Road where we have been operating for the past ten years, to larger purpose-built building in White House Road. It is close to the A14 trunk road."

The link between Tolly Cobbold and the White House Road distribution centre stretches back more than 20 years, as it was Tolly Cobbold which first built and occupied the centre in 1982.

Mr Wales started at the brewery in that year, when the White House Road base had just been opened.

He said today: "It is a bit like deja-vu!

"We were based there from 1982 to 1990 when there was a management buyout which resulted in the business moving out of White House because it was much too large for our needs at that time.

"But today we are a major force in distribution of drinks to the licensed trade, not only for ourselves but also Carlsberg Tetley Ltd, and therefore we are retracing our steps.

"This move is also confirmation of Ridley's commitment, to expansion and to Ipswich. It will give us room for further expansion as well."

The move is expected to take place at the beginning of November, and will coincide with an increased tonnage being handled by the company.