Panattoni builds for Auchan

Panattoni will build a fully robotic distribution center for Auchan Polska in a BTS (built-to-suit) formula. The facility, located in Wilcza Góra near Warsaw, will serve customers of the modernized Auchan online platform. The entire process will be automated using proprietary Ocado systems based on artificial intelligence and machine learning.

In April of this year, Auchan Polska launched a new version of its online store, focusing on greater customer convenience and more personalized shopping. This was the first stage of the partnership between Auchan and the British company Ocado – one of the leaders in automation and robotics for e-grocery logistics. In the next stage, a robotic distribution center will be launched, supporting customer service through automation systems, the use of artificial intelligence, and machine learning. These systems will allow for an increase in product availability to up to 40,000 items and more efficient delivery fulfillment in flexible time slots, including same-day delivery, which will increase the comfort of online shopping.

- „We can confidently say that such a technologically advanced distribution center will be a real game-changer on the Polish market – especially when it comes to innovative solutions allowing for the optimization of order picking and last-mile logistics management” – comments Piotr Dopierała, Supply Chain & Logistics Director at Auchan Retail Polska.

- „It is an honor and an expression of trust that Auchan Polska is entrusting us with the realization of its strategic investment. The new distribution center will allow our client to scale an extremely promising part of the business, which is e-commerce. This is an innovative project due to the advanced level of automation and adaptation to the specific requirements of e-grocery. As a leading developer, we can boast experience in delivering logistics centers for the largest players on the market, and this experience is essential for the realization of such ambitious projects” – says Marek Dobrzycki, Partner at Panattoni.

In the facility with an area of 18,000 sqm, a special mezzanine will be installed for the assembly of the Ocado system. Due to the nature of the stored goods, separate chambers will be created: a refrigerated one and a freezer one, and the introduced temperature control systems will ensure the highest quality and food safety. The refrigeration installation will maintain temperatures in the range of 2°C - 5°C in the cold store and -20°C - -22°C in the freezer. Specific client requirements also include roofing over external dock gates for trucks and courier vehicles, a sprinkler system according to the FM Global standard, and floor reinforcement to 165 kN per foot, and even 210 kN in some zones.

Construction of the new distribution center started in the third quarter of this year, and the completion of work is planned for June 2025. The client will gain early access to the facility in March, while operational activities will begin in the fourth quarter of next year – after the launch of the Ocado technology. Thanks to the optimization of processes and increased scalability, the center will enable more efficient handling of a larger number of orders, also during seasonal peaks, which will affect customer shopping comfort.

The distribution center will undergo environmental certification using the BREEAM method at the Excellent level, which will translate into lower operating costs for the tenant. The building's roof will be reinforced for the installation of photovoltaic panels in the future, and the building's energy-efficient lighting will be controlled by motion and twilight sensors. As part of pro-ecological activities, delivery routes will also be optimized, which will allow for the reduction of CO₂ emissions, and the use of automatic packaging systems will reduce the consumption of packaging materials.

The choice of location in Wilcza Góra (Piaseczno County) was influenced, among other things, by good access to the S7 route, which ensures convenient logistics. Furthermore, Auchan Polska has a shopping center in nearby Piaseczno, which was put into use in 1996 and was the first facility of this type in the country.