Barry Callebaut Group has announced the construction of a new Global Distribution Center (GDC) in Lokeren, Belgium.
The project comprises a low bay and a fully automated high bay warehouse plus more than 60,000 sqm site. The logistic hub will serve as global distribution of chocolate produced by Barry Callebaut as well as solid chocolate for food manufacturers customers.
"The global expansion of our products has increased rapidly in recent years, and we anticipate that this trend will continue in the future," said Massimo Garavaglia, President Region EMEA of the Barry Callebaut Group.
Garavaglia continued: "The new Global Distribution Center is an adequate solution that responds to our growth, increases efficiency for our customers as well as employees and guarantees improved mobility at the same time. In addition, the development of the GDC is a textbook example of the implementation of our ‘smart growth’ strategy."
The new GDC allows Barry Callebaut to consolidate its activities currently located across several locations in the region of Aalst, Belgium.
The warehouse site will be realised by Warehouses De Pauw (WDP). Barry Callebaut will rent the GDC based on a long term rental contract. The handover of the site is expected for the third quarter of 2021.
Barry Callebaut also said it expects to have additional vacancies based on the projected growth for the GDC activities.
