European online fashion platform Zalando will open two additional fulfillment centers in Poland, expanding its facilities by 240,000m2 overall.
One fulfillment center is already under construction in Białe Błota near Bydgoszcz, while the construction of the second, in Bydgoszcz itself, will start at the beginning of 2022.
The fulfillment center in Bydgoszcz will have a total area of 140,000m2, including office facilities, and is scheduled to open in the second quarter of 2023. This site is expected to create up to 3,500 jobs in the long term. The Białe Błota fulfillment center will occupy more than 100,000m2 and provide additional warehouse space, and is expected to create around 800 jobs. Its opening is scheduled for March 2022.
The fulfillment centers will make use of pro-ecological solutions, such as enhanced building thermal insulation, charging stations for electric cars, and rainwater collection and redistribution in accordance with the Building Research Establishment’s Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) sustainability rating of “Excellent”.
The investment is designed to extend the group’s logistics network in Europe and accommodate the demand for its shopping club, Zalando Lounge. Bydgoszcz and the surrounding area were chosen for the new fulfillment centers because of their proximity for Polish customers and other nearby markets. The region also has high labor potential and proximity to other Zalando sites in Poland, which is expected to enable projects to be coordinated smoothly. Along with the construction of new sites, additional investments are being planned in consultation with local authorities, including infrastructure renovation and building of new roads near the Zalando’s sites.
Martin Rost, senior vice president of Offprice at Zalando, said, “The investment in Bydgoszcz and the surrounding area will allow us to expand our European logistics network and support growth of our shopping club, Zalando Lounge, which has become popular with customers across our markets, in particular in Poland. For the first time we will have two sites in one city, which is unique to our logistics network and will provide us with the opportunity to unlock new potential in how to set up successfully collaborating teams for an even better convenience proposition for our customers.”
Rafał Bruski, mayor of the city of Bydgoszcz, added, “We are glad that Zalando recognized the business potential of our region and chose Bydgoszcz and Białe Błota to build two new fulfillment centers. Thanks to this investment, several thousand people will find employment on the local market. I wish the investor effective implementation of their development plans in our city and region, and I look forward to further fruitful cooperation.
Edyta Wiwatowska, president of the management board of the Bydgoszcz Regional Development Agency, commented, “From the very beginning, the Bydgoszcz Regional Development Agency supported Zalando in the process of selecting the location and launching the projects in and around Bydgoszcz, which is why we are all pleased with the implementation of both of these investments. The Zalando investment not only confirms the great potential of our city and the area of the Bydgoszcz Metropolis for the development of modern projects in the logistics and warehouse industry, but also allows us to strengthen our position on the domestic market of these services.”