By signing an agreement to build a 130,000 sqm logistics center for Zalando in Germany, the Goodman Group is on track to deliver over 1.5 million sqm for e-commerce clients in Europe. Since building its first e-commerce logistics center for Amazon in Leipzig, Germany, the industrial real estate expert has solidified its position as the most active and experienced owner, developer, and manager of logistics space for the online retail industry in Europe.
The e-commerce sector is growing dynamically in Europe, and the European Union (EU) has become the world’s largest e-commerce market. Since 2008, the sector has grown by approximately 12-18% in the EU. In 2014, 2.5 million Europeans were directly employed in the e-commerce sector, generating 424 billion euros in revenue. It is estimated that the industry will double its turnover over the next five years, partly due to the growing role of the omni-channel strategy implemented by traditional stores (integrating online and offline sales). The growth of the sector will require several million square meters of new logistics space.
Solid foundations for growth
A flexible approach to client needs and extensive experience gained from projects for the e-commerce industry allow Goodman to meet the growing needs of the sector and execute even the most complex projects in a short time. This is possible by anticipating client needs based on broad technical knowledge and capital that allows for financing new investments with own funds. All of this significantly contributes to shortening the investment process from its inception to the handover of the facility to the client.
– Logistics real estate has become a key factor in the development of the e-commerce industry, having a huge impact on the level of customer service, margins, and competitiveness – says Philippe van der Beken, Goodman Managing Director for Continental Europe. – E-commerce clients require various types of buildings and solutions to ensure the proper handling of their diverse operations. Our success is based on understanding their needs and our extensive experience in delivering facilities on time, thanks to which our clients can successfully implement their strategy.
For nearly a decade, Goodman has been at the forefront of developers supporting e-commerce companies in their expansion. When Goodman handed over its first logistics center in Continental Europe to Amazon in 2006, today’s e-commerce giant was still a new and relatively unknown player in Europe. Goodman has also supported the development of European e-commerce companies such as Zalando (fashion industry) and Home24 (home furnishings), winning subsequent orders from all three leading online retail players.
Leading developer for the e-commerce sector in Europe
In 2015, Goodman completed 140,000 sqm of logistics space for e-commerce companies such as: Cdiscount in France, Home24 and eBay in Germany, and Alza.sk in Slovakia. Since 2006, Goodman has provided solutions for a wide range of e-commerce clients in: the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Poland, the United Kingdom, and Slovakia. Thanks to deep technical knowledge in the field of logistics real estate for the e-commerce industry, Goodman has been able to respond to the most complex client requirements and ensure that the delivered solutions meet their operational needs. The knowledge possessed by Goodman specialists is an asset that clients can draw upon during the design process of often very complex facilities.