Auchan opens its second logistics center in Romania

Auchan Retail inaugurates a new logistics center, the second in Romania, located in the northwest of the country, in Călan city, Hunedoara County. With a storage surface of 22,000 m², the new warehouse accommodates both ambient and fresh products, as well as office spaces. The entire campus, planned to be expanded in the coming years, exceeds 67,000 m² and includes both storage and green spaces with various areas of facilities for staff and carriers. The logistics center in Călan will support the company’s development strategy by increasing the logistics capacity, improving the level of product availability and offering a high degree of freshness.

The construction was completed last year, and the new logistics center is currently operational. With a storage capacity for both environmental and temperature-controlled products, the new location will take over the entire logistics activity from the Deva and Băcia regional platforms, which provided so far the operational flows in the area, serving 12 hypermarkets and 2 Auchan supermarkets, as well as over 140 stores in Petrom stations.

The project complements the company’s supply strategy and will allow the management of new flows of goods in the region – refrigerated, frozen and textile products. At the same time, it will improve the customer service quality, through a higher availability of products on the shelf and a higher degree of freshness for all Auchan store formats.

According to the company, the new logistics center has a storage capacity of 13,000 pallets, offering the possibility to deliver 15 million packages annually. The warehouse is equipped with 42 unloading ramps and loading trucks, with the capacity to receive 1,500 pallets daily.

„The new logistics center in Călan is intended for the development that we propose for the next period on all levels, contributing both to the increase of productivity and to the improvement of the services we offer to our clients. The modernization of the infrastructure will allow us to respond as well and as promptly as possible to the needs of our customers, the campus serving the supply of Auchan Romania stores in the northwest of the country. Here, the employees will benefit from superior conditions for carrying out the activity, with new office and relaxation spaces, as well as the possibility to access new jobs. We chose this location because we wanted to bring value to the communities in which we operate. Călan city is part of a disadvantaged area, being one of the former mono-industrial cities where the availability of jobs is one of the main problems in the community. The center has 150 people in service, employees of both Auchan and our partner, Yusen Logistics Romania, a provider of logistics services” said Teodor Șerban, Director of Efficiency and Projects, Auchan Retail Romania.

The employees have at their disposal a variety of facilities such as relaxation areas, dining areas, locker rooms, private parking, and in the future a sports field will be arranged in the area. Călan logistics center also offers TIR drivers several benefits such as shower areas, sports and leisure activities.

Continuing the mission of ensuring a sustainable business, the new logistics center will help reduce CO2 emissions by shortening supply routes and optimizing transport routes. The warehouse is classified as class A, energy efficient. The refrigeration systems also provide for a low energy consumption, 25% lower than the usual technical variants.

In addition to the Călan campus, the retailer also operates a logistics space with an area of 71,000 m2 in Ștefăneștii de Jos, near Bucharest, inaugurated in 2020. Located close to the A3 motorway, it ensures optimal management of routes to the south-east and center of the country. The warehouse has a storage capacity of 40,000 pallets, and here are working 500 people, employees of Auchan and of the two logistics service providers Auchan Romania collaborates with. The center in Ștefănești serves both 47 hypermarkets, supermarkets and MyAuchan convenience stores, as well as stores in Petrom stations in the southern and southeastern part of the country. The campus is also EDGE certified for sustainability measures implemented to save electricity, water and used materials.