Bulgarian retailer Fantastico Group has invested €18 million to expand its logistics centre located near Elin Pelin, close to the capital Sofia.
Following the expansion, Fantastico Group now operates a state-of-the-art facility spanning approximately 36,000 square metres.
It described the project as 'strategically important' for the retail chain’s growth and expansion into new markets and optimisation of the delivery process.
The investment has allowed the company to add new areas for goods the require specific storage temperatures.
The facility has six temperature zones ranging from +12⁰С to -24⁰С to ensure optimal conditions for keeping the goods fresh.
'A Strategic Project'
Svetoslav Gavrilov, chief executive officer of Fantastico Group stated, "We consider it a strategic project designed to give us leeway and flexibility to develop our network of supermarkets in Sofia or other Bulgarian cities and to propose a wide range of products of our own choice with minimal risk of suppliers’ logistics capacity dependency. Quality control of the goods will be strengthened by a team of experts - agronomists and technologists."
Fantastico Group teamed up with Eckert & Partners to design an industrial refrigeration installation at the facility. The project was implemented by GEA Refrigeration.
The facility features 79 hydraulic ramps and goods are processed in increasing quantities of up to 150 – 200 tonnes daily.
It will help reduce the time of order and delivery to supermarkets and also cut down on the number of vehicles delivering goods in urban areas.
Gavrilov added, "Moreover, the new storage facility will allow us to expand our product range - one of our competitive advantages.
"It will allow us to collaborate with smaller local producers and suppliers with distribution channels yet to be established. We would be able to import goods not yet on the Bulgarian market but of great interest to our customers."
