How KHIPU Networks Power Network Uptime for Henderson Group – an interview with Paul McMenamy, Infrastructure Analyst.
Operating within the time-critical supply chain and convenience retail market demands absolute reliability. As the holder of the SPAR franchise for Northern Ireland, the Henderson Group manages continuous deliveries for ambient, fresh, and frozen goods across the region. Supporting a massive internal operation that spans multiple warehouses, corporate offices, and approximately 1,500 internal staff means that network connectivity is the core engine keeping the business moving.
Paul McMenamy plays a vital role in maintaining this operational backbone as a member of Henderson Group’s infrastructure team. Having started with the company in 2011 on a student placement, Paul transitioned through first-line support before joining the infrastructure team in 2016. Today, his team “oversees everything in the organisation that requires a plug”- ranging from servers and switches to robust warehouse wireless networks.
KHIPU: In a time-critical environments like logistics and convenience retail, how critical is reliable network connectivity to your day-to-day operations?
PM: It is mission critical. If our systems went down for 24 hours, there would be a significant impact on our business and a ripple effect across our store locations. Having reliable, redundant wireless and network systems is vital because if we had to go back to paper operations given the sheer scale of the business, I don’t know how it would ever work. Our operations department is completely intolerant of downtime.
KHIPU: How has the network evolved over the years, particularly given the rapid growth of the business?
PM: COVID-19 was the main catalyst for rapid scaling. Our operations went up by 200% to 300% during the pandemic and never came back down. From there, the business continuously expanded by acquiring independent stores and local corner shops, driving a massive increase in volume and the construction of new warehouses like Hyde Park in 2017 and High Town in 2018.
Originally, we relied on legacy hardware controllers. When we shifted to HPE Aruba through our partnership with KHIPU, we adopted an instant architecture instead of a controller-based one. Instead of relying on just two controllers, we went to 250 instant APs across the estate. All of which had virtual controller capability. If one goes down, another seamlessly picks up the slack.
KHIPU: You are currently undertaking a massive wireless and wired infrastructure refresh across your warehouses, including the Hyde Park site. Can you tell us about that project?
PM: High Town warehouse, built in 2018, utilised KHIPU’s “honeycomb” AP deployment method, which was a night-and-day performance difference compared to the older perimeter-wall AP layout we inherited at our 2017 Hyde Park warehouse.
With our wireless estate reaching the 10-year mark, we are running a full refresh across the board. We are replacing every access point in the estate with newer Aruba APs – moving from Aruba 305s to 635 APs. Working alongside the KHIPU team, physical site surveys and detailed planning have ensured the new deployment will future proof our network for the next decade.
Every warehouse has now been meticulously surveyed and designed. When introducing new warehouse management software like Manhattan WMS, having a precise wireless design is non-negotiable. A properly surveyed and deployed KHIPU solution ensures that high-performance scanning devices work seamlessly with modern WMS systems right out of the box.
KHIPU: Why has HPE Aruba remained your go-to technology choice after all this time?
PM: Before partnering with KHIPU, we extensively trialled multiple wireless vendors. We wanted a resilient architecture that didn’t choke on a single point of failure. Our long-term faith in HPE Aruba, combined with KHIPU’s expert configuration and ongoing support, means we’ve never had to log any major issues. That speaks volumes about the quality of both the kit and KHIPU’s expertise.
KHIPU: Beyond wireless, how is Henderson Group approaching cybersecurity and future network enhancements?
PM: Cybersecurity is a top priority. While dedicated teams manage security globally, infrastructure is tightly integrated. We’ve invested heavily in resilience – such as a ‘clean room’ environment to quickly spin up critical production servers if an attack occurs, alongside other tooling.
Looking ahead at the wired network refresh, we are also moving toward “colourless ports” utilising HPE Aruba ClearPass. While the wireless network already enforces strict machine authentication, the wired side currently allows open port connections. Implementing colourless ports will extend complete network access control (NAC) visibility and security across both wired and wireless environments
“The KHIPU guys are brilliant. They are always on the end of the phone when you need them, and they make site planning effortless – walking the warehouse floors and turning around precise designs with ease. The partnership, the equipment, and the execution speak for themselves.”
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