Non-food discount store anticipates strong growth in Germany
Biblis, 9th June 2017. For its Germany-wide expansion plans, the Dutch non-food discounter, Action has chosen the logistics company Fiege to run its new distribution centre. On Friday, 9th June, Action, Fiege and the real estate developer, Dietz opened Action’s first distribution centre in Germany. The new warehouse built in southern Hesse, in Biblis, supplies Action branches in Germany, Austria and parts of France.
“Action is Europe’s fastest-growing non-food discount store. With the opening of our first distribution centre in Germany and the support of our partnering companies, Dietz AG and Fiege Logistik, we are creating a further milestone in our expansion strategy”, said Sander van der Laan, CEO Action, during the opening. “With the total number of branches opened in Germany, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Austria reaching 197, we recorded tremendous growth last year already. In 2016, we opened 60 branches in Germany alone – with its population density and size, Germany is one the countries which our growth strategy focuses on.”
85,000 square metres dedicated to logistics
The fact that Germany is playing a central role for Action is reflected in the company’s plans for its future: For 2017, Action is planning to create up to 2,000 new jobs. “Action’s growth targets are a major challenge for us which we are happy to accept”, said Jan Fiege, Fiege Management, during the opening ceremony. He added: “It fills us with pride that Action has entrusted the responsibility for its supply chain activities to us and that we are already supplying its roughly 80 branches in Germany from Biblis with a staff of 200.”
Because construction had already significantly progressed, storage operations started in March already. First branches are being supplied from the location in Biblis since early April. On a good 85,000 square metres of logistics space, Action’s 13 product categories are stored and supplied to the branches on a daily basis. The growth that Action seeks calls for building up a team of around 800 people by 2018, who – once the expansion has been completed – will perform over 230,000 picks per day.
Many new hires planned
“We are planning on hiring many new people. Relocating resources from other sites has allowed us to create a solid, experienced basis for the new team”, says Dr. Herbert Stommel, Managing Director Fiege Logistik Biblis GmbH. Fiege will also create new vocational training positions at the new location with the goal of training young people to become warehouse logistics specialists. With these new operations Fiege continues its growth efforts in the region and is progressing into a crucial pillar for the regional labour market.
“Action is a vital new customer of Fiege for the Consumer Goods segment”, says Michael Lorca, member of the management of the FIEGE Group. And: “We are proud that Action trusts in the efficiency and quality of Fiege and wishes to advance its growth with Fiege by its side.”