Hub in the Northeast of Poland to serve 15 million Zalando Lounge members across 13 European countries
Olsztynek, 21 October 2019. Zalando opened its first international fulfilment centre for its Zalando Lounge shopping club in Olsztynek, Poland. As Zalando’s logistics partner, Fiege will manage a 130,000 square metres-large logistics space to serve the growing customer base of Zalando Lounge which currently boasts over 15 million members across 13 European markets. 500 jobs have already been created at the facility situated in the Northeast of Poland. In the long run, the headcount is expected to grow to more than 1000.
The hub held its topping out ceremony in July 2018, and first operations took off in early March 2019. The Olsztynek fulfilment centre features two five-storey high pick towers which can hold several million items. Installed automation technology includes, for example, sorters that compile individual items into orders. Europe’s biggest so-called Optimus outbound sorter will direct orders to their respective points of delivery. Home & Living will be given a dedicated area to process shipments even more efficiently.
Martin Rost, Senior Vice President Office (Zalando Lounge and Outlets), says: “The growing popularity of our shopping club both in Poland and across Europe challenges us to optimise our logistics processes continuously. With Fiege as our on-site operating partner for Zalando Lounge we are confident to extend our offer by new brands and products, such as home accessories and soft furnishings.”
Piotr Kohmann, CEO FIEGE Poland, adds: “Thanks to our experience running the Polish fulfilment centre in Gardno near Szczecin, we were able to incorporate the resulting practices into the new hub for Zalando Lounge. We are very proud that our well-planned and executed implementation as well as our flexibility allowed us to handle first volumes already. But this marks only the beginning: Our partnership with Zalando Lounge aims to create a unique working environment for our employees and increase our headcount continuously. We are convinced that the quality of our work here in Olsztynek will be appreciated by Zalando Lounge’s customers across Europe.”
Zalando chose Olsztynek as the new logistical hub due to the region’s recruitment potential, its geographical location and infrastructure which connects directly with the S51 and S7 motorways, as well as following the promising cooperation with the Olsztyn city council. The newly opened facility joins the Zalando logistics network of soon-to-be fifteen fulfilment centres in six countries. Zalando opened the logistics site in Szczecin in 2018. A further centre is planned in the immediate vicinity of Lodz and is expected to start operations in 2020.
With 15 million members from 13 European markets, Zalando Lounge is one of Europe’s most successful shopping clubs. Zalando Lounge offers exclusive access to 2,500 brands with discounts of up to 75 percent. It complements the Zalando Fashion Store with special time-limited campaigns selling the latest in fashion.
