Zalando ships first parcel from new Dutch fulfillment center

December 17, 2021
Company
  • The 140,000 sqm fulfillment center in Bleiswijk, near Rotterdam, brings relevant assortment closer to Zalando’s customers to further strengthen convenience services in the Benelux markets
  • Logistics service provider Ingram Micro, which operates the Rotterdam site, expects to create 1,500 jobs in the mid-term
  • The fulfillment center, the largest in Zalando’s European logistics network, will contribute to reduced average delivery times and will enable a greater share of next day delivery, eventually enabling same-day delivery in Benelux markets

ROTTERDAM/BLEISWIJK, Netherlands, 17 December, 2021 // Zalando, Europe’s leading online platform for fashion and lifestyle, today shipped its first parcel to a customer in Nieuwegein, near Utrecht, from its new fulfillment center in Bleiswijk, near Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The logistics center will be operated by leading supply chain and e-commerce logistics provider Ingram Micro, creating 1,500 jobs in the mid-term. The operations in Bleiswijk, a town part of the municipality of Lansingerland, will further improve Zalando’s convenience propositions and enable future growth for the Zalando platform.

Employee at a fulfillment center closing a Zalando-branded parcel

At 140,000 square meters, or almost 20 soccer fields, the logistics site is the largest in Zalando’s European fulfillment network and brings Zalando’s relevant assortment even closer to customers in the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, France, and the UK. Customers in the Benelux markets will benefit from reduced average delivery times.

Portrait of Megan Keller Maley

Megan Maley, General Manager for the Benelux, the UK and Ireland at Zalando, says: “We are excited to have started shipping to customers from our new Dutch fulfillment center. Zalando’s distribution center near Rotterdam will allow us to extend next day delivery services and eventually introduce same-day delivery for customers in the Benelux markets. I would like to thank all staff and supporting stakeholders, especially Ingram Micro and the municipality of Lansingerland, for making this possible.”

Kathy Arends, alderman for economics of the Lansingerland municipality, is pleased that Zalando has picked Bleiswijk as the site for its logistics center: “It illustrates the central importance of the A12 corridor in the Lansingerland municipality. We are honored by an international company, such as Zalando, choosing to strengthen our economy with this distribution center.”

Jeroen Palsrok, Director Specialty Accounts, Ingram Micro, says: “We are proud to operate Zalando’s newest and largest logistics site, which builds on Ingram Micro’s global expertise of highly automated e-commerce fulfillment. Our energetic team in the Netherlands expands this with local expertise, and they will further lift the convenience proposition of Zalando to its customers.”

For the construction of the fulfillment center, Zalando has invested in sustainable solutions and installed solar panels on the roof of the building. With these considerations, the site qualifies for the BREEAM “Very Good” sustainability certification. From a technological standpoint, the Rotterdam location will eventually have the highest level of automation within the Zalando fulfillment network, such as goods-to-person shuttle technology.

The Dutch logistics center brings the total number of Zalando fulfillment centers to 13, across seven countries, including the logistics site in the Netherlands. To enable future growth and serve customers with best-in-class convenience, Zalando continues to expand its European logistics network: Construction work on new fulfillment centers in Germany, Poland and France has started or will kick off soon.

The Rotterdam site has been developed as a joint venture of Intospace (former Somerset Capital Partners) and USAA Realco-Europe.

Zalando SE Boiler Plate EN

About Zalando

Founded in Berlin in 2008, Zalando is building the leading pan-European ecosystem for fashion and lifestyle e-commerce around two growth vectors: Business-to-Consumer (B2C) and Business-to-Business (B2B). In B2C, we offer an inspiring and quality multi-brand shopping experience for fashion and lifestyle products to about 50 million active customers in 25 markets. In B2B, we are using our logistic infrastructure, software and service capabilities to help brands and retailers run and scale their entire e-commerce business, on or off Zalando. As an ecosystem, Zalando aims to enable positive change for the fashion and lifestyle industry.

About Ingram Micro Commerce & Lifecycle Services

Ingram Micro Commerce & Lifecycle Services provides supply chain solutions that go beyond connecting supply and demand. From cross-border fulfillment to dropship and returns management, IT asset disposition, remarketing, distribution and more, Ingram Micro’s solutions drive growth, enhance ROI, and protect clients. The company proudly serves customers across a broad spectrum of industries — from fast-growing brands to Global 2000 enterprises — and is dedicated to facilitating their success through its global warehousing network, world-class technology, strategic partnerships and decades of expertise in the logistics, mobility and ITAD industries. Find out more on www.ingrammicroservices.com.