Zalando, a leading European platform for fashion and lifestyle, together with Panattoni – a leading developer of logistic centres, celebrated the roofing ceremony of Zalando’s new fulfilment centre, in Bydgoszcz, Poland. A traditional wreath was lifted at the construction site in the presence of the honoured guest, Mayor of Bydgoszcz Rafał Bruski. The newly built fulfilment centre will serve Zalando Lounge’s customers to match increased demand and the growing popularity of the shopping club’s offering.
The newly roofed fulfilment centre in Bydgoszcz comprises a total area of 140,000 sqm, including logistics, office space and social areas. The site will benefit from implemented eco-friendly solutions, such as enhanced building thermal insulation, charging stations for electric cars, photovoltaic installations on the roof, as well as rainwater collection and redistribution systems developed by the BREEAM (BRE Environmental Assessment Method) standard of “Excellent”.
Bydgoszcz and Białe Błota were chosen due to their strategic location that offers proximity to Polish customers and other nearby markets, as well as the high labour potential of the region. Accessibility of other Zalando sites also influenced the decision as it allows smooth coordination of operations. The successful cooperation with local authorities and their deep understanding of Zalando’s needs should be emphasized as well.
Along with the construction of the new fulfilment centres, additional investments were undertaken in consultation with local authorities, including infrastructure renovation and building new roads near the Zalando’s sites. Both investments also contribute to the development of the local labour market as they are to create over 4,000 new workplaces, incl. up to 3,500 in Bydgoszcz and 800 in Białe Błota.
Rafał Bruski, Mayor of the city of Bydgoszcz, said: “I am pleased that Zalando appreciates the high investment potential of Bydgoszcz, which consists of both a convenient location and the availability of qualified employees and attractive investment areas. I am convinced that close cooperation between our city and Zalando will be beneficial for Bydgoszcz and its residents, as well as create many new opportunities for the whole region. I hope to further strengthen our joint activities in the future.”
The new fulfilment centre in Bydgoszcz is Zalando’s second logistic investment in the region. The fulfilment centre in Białe Błota has been operating since May. The Bydgoszcz site is planned to start operations in 2023 and will be operated by a logistics partner.
Daniel Rogiński, General Manager of CEE Zalando, commented: “Five fulfilment centres combined with a favourable location and a rapidly developing infrastructure make Poland the true heart of our logistics network. Logistics, on the other hand, is the heart of Zalando, having a great impact on our plans to further deepen our customer relationships and thus become The Starting Point for Fashion. We are pleased that we can support the development of various Polish regions through our investments and the creation of new jobs, of which we have so far created 12,000 in Poland.”
The investment is being developed by Panattoni, a company that has already delivered 17 million sqm in Europe, of which about 30 percent to the e-commerce sector.
Marek Dobrzycki, Managing Director at Panattoni commented: “The 140,000 sqm facility for Zalando is another major investment for e-commerce completed by Panattoni. Once again, our vast experience in projects for the e-commerce sector, including numerous investments delivered for the apparel industry, pays off. Today’s roofing ceremony is a confirmation of the smooth construction process that Panattoni guarantees even in difficult and uncertain times. Now, when the development is at an advanced stage, we can marvel at its size and imagine the possibilities it will bring it.”
Fulfilment centres in Bydgoszcz and Białe Błota are further investments by Zalando into Poland in addition to the facilities in Gryfino (Stettin), Olsztynek and Głuchów (Łódź).
Zalando Lounge this year expanded into 3 new markets: Lithuania, Slovakia and Romania (presently available in 17 markets across Europe).
