The Lidl retail chain continues its expansion in Lithuania and is starting the construction of its second logistics centre in the country. On the 16th of September , a symbolic ceremony of burying a time capsule took place. The new logistics centre will be situated in Vilnius, near Lentvaris, and its area will reach about 64 thousand sq. m. Investments in the project will reach over EUR 100 million. The logistics centre is planned to start its operations in 2024. General contracting works are carried out by Conresta UAB.
‘The new logistics centre is an important phase in the company’s development, as the number of Lidl stores in Lithuania is increasing, and their proper supply has to be ensured. At the same time, this means an even greater positive impact on the country’s economy and hundreds of new jobs. The new logistics centre will stand out thanks to its modern and sustainable solutions, which will help to ensure even more efficient network operations and provide customers with the best value for money,’ says Radostin Roussev-Peine,’ CEO of Lidl Lietuva (Lidl Lithuania).
The construction of the new logistics centre will be handled by Conresta, a general contracting company with many years of experience. During the peak periods of the works, more than 350 Conresta employees and subcontractors will be working on the project construction site. The company AZCM UAB will take care of the technical supervision of the project.
‘While building this logistics centre, we will manage more than one hundred subcontractors and suppliers, and we will plan the works very carefully so that all the construction works at the site are carried out on time. We have gained lots of experience in building logistics centres for both Lithuanian and foreign investors, so I have no doubt that we will implement this project by the planned deadline and meet the customer’s expectations by ensuring highest quality,’ said Lukas Laukaitis, the CEO of Conresta.
The symbolic ceremony of burying the capsule was also attended by Vilnius City Mayor Remigijus Šimašius, German Ambassador to Lithuania Matthias Sonn, and Vice Minister for Economy and Innovation of the Republic of Lithuania Vincas Jurgutis.
‘An investment of this calibre means not only new jobs and income for Vilnius but also reminds us of our potential – we are a growing city that attracts investment and development,’ said Vilnius Mayor Remigijus Šimašius.
The Vice-Minister V. Jurgutis was happy with Lidl’s obvious contribution to improving Lithuania’s economy and creating new jobs. ‘We are glad that this German retail chain continues to invest and strengthen its position in Lithuania. In total, Lidl has already employed almost 3,000 employees and paid nearly half a billion euros in taxes. It is obvious that received investments improve the economy of Lithuania. We are consistently striving to attract investments: by improving the conditions for business and investments, we attracted direct investments to Lithuania from abroad in the first half of this year alone, amounting to EUR 252.2 million,’ says V. Jurgutis, Deputy Minister for Economy and Innovation.
‘The Lidl retail chain entered the Lithuanian market a few years ago and brought even harsher competition to this sector. Nowadays, with rapidly rising prices and costs, this economic benefit will be even more relevant for everyone. It should not be forgotten that for some consumers this can become a type of salvation,’ said the German Ambassador to Lithuania M. Sonn.
It will be modern and include sustainable solutions
One of the company’s sustainable solutions, which will be implemented in the new logistics centre, is environment-friendly refrigerants installed in the refrigeration rooms: the heat energy released during the cooling process of these rooms will be used to heat other rooms. Smart LED outdoor and indoor lighting will also be installed. In the territory of the logistics centre, landscaping solutions of an exceptional scale will be implemented, including the roof of the logistics centre. In total, more than 600 trees, 140 hedge seedlings, 1500 shrub seedlings and 1200 perennial herbaceous plants will be planted on the plot. A green roof is also planned, with an area of about 400 sq.m, and solar panels will be installed, which will allow for the significant reduction of electricity costs. They are planned to cover 25% of the electricity bill of the logistics centre.
The built logistics centre is intended to be certified according to the international Edge Standard, which shows that the company follows the highest standards of sustainability. The logistics centre will also be the first construction project in the history of Lidl Lietuva (Lidl Lithuania), with the design fully implemented in a 3D environment. This means that as well as structures and architecture, the engineering systems are designed in virtual space. With this design method, it is easy to notice collisions of various systems, and reducing the number of these collisions will allow the company to both lower costs and shorten construction deadlines, which is also extremely important.
Based on Lidl’s latest requirements, the logistics centre will have to employ state-of-the-art solutions to maintain the quality of products stored at a certain temperature. Airlock chambers (buffer rooms) will be installed in the logistics centre to ensure an uninterrupted cold chain for delivered products. In this way, as soon as the delivered products leave the vehicle, they will go to a temperature-controlled intermediate room and then to a storage room.