This summer, Berlin-based e-commerce giant Zalando will begin construction of a 140,000 square metre logistics centre in Bleiswijk near Rotterdam. The expansion of the logistics network is an important part of Zalando’s growth target of achieving a gross value of €20 billion by 2023/2024. By the summer of 2021, parcels will be sent from the logistics center near Rotterdam to customers in Western Europe, including the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, Spain, and the United Kingdom.
Zalando plans to invest €200 million in the intralogistics into the new logistics location. Among Zalando’s nine current logistics locations, the centre near Rotterdam will have the highest degree of automation. Automation relieves employees of physically demanding tasks, while more efficient processes will enable better services for customers.
“A strong logistics network is essential to delivering on our growth strategy and our vision of becoming the starting point for fashion, the first point of fashion destination in Europe,” said Jan Bartels, Senior Vice President of Customer Fulfillment. “The construction of a state-of-the-art logistics center in Bleiswijk near Rotterdam is the next step in creating the necessary infrastructure.”
The site will be able to hold around 16 million items, and create around 1,500 jobs. The project is being planned and developed by a joint venture between Somerset Capital Partners and USAA Realco-Europe.
Zalando plans to integrate sustainable solutions into the fulfillment centre, including solar cells on the roof of the building, to obtain a BREEAM-NL sustainability certification.
“The Benelux markets play a key role in Zalando’s ambitious growth,” said Kenneth Melchior, Director of Northern Europe at Zalando. “Over the next five years, we want to more than double sales in this region and thus strengthen our position as market leader. The new logistics center is crucial for this growth. We look forward to providing even better service to our customers in these markets by reducing delivery times to Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. From Rotterdam, we will be able to supply our customers in the region on the same or the next day.”
“We are very pleased to implement this logistics center for Zalando,” said Justin Hildebrandt, Managing Director of USAA Realco-Europe. “We had the vision to develop the building in these dimensions and with an innovative and future-oriented design for single use, and the requirements of Zalando are ideal to realize this vision.”
“We are delighted that Zalando has selected us for this unique logistics development,” said Tim Beckmann, partner at Somerset Capital Partners. “The highest sustainability standards will be applied to the entire project, and the business park, which previously housed Royal FloraHolland flower auctions, will be revitalized. For us, the project offers a unique opportunity to demonstrate our expertise in the field of new and further development of logistics real estate.”
