Italian discount supermarket chain MD is investing €80 million in a new logistics centre, located in Cortenuova, near Bergamo.
The new facility will be based in an industrial area that formerly housed a steelworks plant, which the retailer purchased at an auction for €13.8 million.
The site has a total surface of 270,000 square metres, of which 160,000 square metres will be covered. Construction work should start by the end of the year, and the site will employ over 100 people.
The intention, according to group founder and president Patrizio Podini, is to create a new logistics hub that "will be the largest in the discount channel in Italy".
Strategic Location
Speaking to local daily L’Eco di Bergamo, he said that the hub will be of crucial importance, as it will serve all the stores in the North and Center-North. Furthermore, its position is strategic for both the existing MD stores in the area and for those planned.
In Northern Italy alone, Podini says, MD will open 20 of the 39 sales point planned for 2018.
Last month, MD opened its first store in Agordo, province of Belluno, continuing the expansion strategy which saw the opening of many new stores in 2017 (including locations in Cefalù, Potenza, Uta, San Martino Siccomario, Somma Vesuviana, Palermo, Oleggio, Sarre, Cagliari, Samugheo, Imola and Villamar).
The retailer also inaugurated more than 35 refurbished stores, based on a new store concept that puts the focus on natural light and increased use of digital technology.
The company’s three-year development plan anticipates the opening of 90 new discount stores in Italy, for a total investment of €488 million.
Based in Gricignano di Aversa near Caserta, MD is Italy’s second largest discounter, with 725 stores, served by seven logistics centres.
It has a 15% share of the national discount channel, employs over 6,000 employees, and ended 2017 with a turnover of €2.3 billion (+9.5% on 2016).
In a recent survey by Statista, MD was included among the top 400 companies that provide the best work conditions in Italy, placing first among the large food distribution companies.
© 2018 European Supermarket Magazine – your source for the latest retail news. Article by Branislav Pekic. Click subscribe to sign up to ESM: The European Supermarket Magazine
