Tuesday, October 8, 2024

SPAR Austria Invests €51M to Expand Graz Logistics Centre

SPAR Austria Invests €51M on Graz Logistics Centre Expanssion

SPAR Austria has significantly expanded its logistics centre in Graz with a €51 million investment, marking a key milestone in its operational growth. This expansion, completed in September 2024 after nearly two years of construction, is the fifth development phase for the facility. The company undertook this project to meet the increasing demand for products and to ensure the efficient supply of goods to over 1.4 million people in Styria and Southern Burgenland.

Automated high-bay pallet warehouse
Automated high-bay pallet warehouse (Credit: SPAR/Werner Krug)

The expanded logistics centre now features an additional 12,000 pallet spaces, which represent a 40% increase in capacity. Of these, half are housed in an advanced automated high-bay pallet warehouse, developed in partnership with logistics experts KNAPP. The high-bay system, with dimensions of 10 meters deep and 17 meters high, maximizes storage efficiency without requiring additional floor space. This innovation underscores SPAR Austria’s commitment to enhancing its logistical capabilities to provide seamless service to its customers.

AT Exectutives warehouse Graz
From left to right: Gunther, head of logistics goods flow spar styria, Spar Austria board member Marcus Wild, Christoph Holzer, Spar chairman of the board Hans K. Reisch and chairman of the Spar supervisory board Dr. Gerhard Drexel (Image: Spar/Werner Krug)

Hans K. Reisch, CEO of SPAR Austria, expressed pride in the company’s efforts to reinforce its position as a leading food retailer. “With this expansion, we are strengthening our logistical capabilities and reaffirming our commitment as a reliable local supplier. We remain focused on being the leading food retailer, providing our customers with the best service,” Reisch said.

Alongside the warehouse expansion, SPAR Austria also installed a new photovoltaic system on the logistics centre’s roof. This system produces six times more electricity than its predecessor, increasing output from 114 kilowatts peak to 700 kilowatts peak. This green initiative aligns with SPAR’s broader sustainability goals, allowing the company to reduce its carbon footprint while ensuring a more eco-friendly energy supply for the logistics operations.

Graz Logistics Centre

Automated high-bay pallet warehouse
Automated high-bay pallet warehouse (Credit: SPAR/Werner Krug)

The Graz logistics centre is one of SPAR Austria’s six regional distribution hubs. It services are 273 SPAR, EUROSPAR, INTERSPAR, and SPAR Express stores. And they are receiving daily deliveries from 570 suppliers and handling around 3,700 pallets of goods every day. With the recent expansion, the warehouse now boasts 94 delivery gates. Among them, 31 are new. All these are streamlining the distribution process for its diverse product range, including perishable foods, fruits, vegetables, and dairy products.

SPAR Austria

The SPAR Austria fleet, powered by bio-based HVO fuel, made from used cooking oils and fats, plays a key role in ensuring efficient deliveries. This shift to sustainable fuel has reduced greenhouse gas emissions by up to 90%, highlighting the company’s efforts to adopt environmentally conscious practices.

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