Fressnapf opens new warehouse

Fressnapf's new European warehouse will be responsible for the interim storage of imported products, primarily accessories, from Asia and North America and for packaging and delivery on demand of these items to the logistics centre at the company's head office in Krefeld. The new logistics centre covers an area of 31 000 m2 and has storage capacity for approx. 50 000 pallets. It replaces five decentralised external warehouses that were leased by Fressnapf, providing 25 000 m2 of warehouse space in all, and which will be closed by the end of the year. The goods stored in these warehouses have been moved to Duisburg before the end of past year.
"The new logistics centre will optimise our supply chains in a logical manner. Thanks to the excellent infrastructure network in the Port of Duisburg, we will make our logistics fit for the growth of the company in the next few years through faster, more efficient goods handling," said Alfred Glander, the new CEO of the Fressnapf Group, at the opening of the centre. 
Goodman, the US real estate group, developed the new complex on a 47 000 m² converted brownfield site. The company is a leading global owner, developer and manager of logistics sites and has also developed a logistics centre in the Port of Duisburg for the automotive supplier NGK Spark Plug Europe. Another logistics centre for VW is in the pipeline too, so that on completion of all ongoing developments Goodman will manage around 85 000 m2 of logistics space in the Port of Duisburg. The construction company Goldbeck was the general contractor. 18 mio euros have been invested in the new logistics facility for Fressnapf, which will spend another 2 mio € on fitting out the interior. The pet supplies retail group will lease the property for ten years initially, with an option to extend this period. 
Marked increase in efficiency
The project was realised in a record construction time of just six months. "Construction commenced on 1 June, and goods storage started on 1 December. Our logistics centre has a hall height of 12.20 m, allowing for the integration of high racks and a mezzanine covering a total of 1 800 m2. The additional hall height and 29 loading gates ensure efficient intralogistics and optimal container and truck handling," says Udo Rogowsky, senior vice-president of supply chain management & logistics at the Fressnapf Group.  70 forklift trucks move through the halls, which boast a total aisle length of over 8 km between the racks. By January it…