Lidl has unveiled its new flagship logistics hub in Ablis, located southwest of Paris. Spanning an impressive 87,000 square metres, the facility is now the largest of its kind in Europe and marks a significant milestone in the supermarket chain’s expansion strategy. The hub, which took over seven years to complete, will initially support around fifty Lidl stores across the Paris region.

The state-of-the-art distribution centre is designed with future growth in mind, as Lidl continues to expand its presence in France. Featuring 5,800 square metres of office space and fourteen loading docks, the hub can manage 9,000 incoming pallets daily, with 10,000 dispatched each week. By March, all fifteen storage and processing zones within the facility are expected to be fully operational, ensuring it is ready to meet increasing demand as Lidl opens more stores.

Sustainability is at the heart of the new hub, which recycles 92% of its waste and incorporates innovative logistics to maximise efficiency. Trucks leaving the site carry not only goods but also waste, reducing the need for empty return trips. Additionally, over 12,000 square metres of solar panels have been installed, providing a quarter of the building’s energy requirements.

The launch of this facility signals Lidl’s commitment to both growth and environmental responsibility, setting a benchmark for logistics in the retail sector.