Panattoni has been granted a loan of EUR 27.5 mln for a BTS centre developed for Action. The distribution centre in Zakroczym is to supply 160 stores from the retail chain.

Panattoni, the most active industrial real estate developer in the world, has been granted a EUR 27.5 mln loan by Berlin Hyp to finance a distribution centre in Zakroczym developed for Action. The centre, which is to supply 160 stores from the chain and employ around 300 people, was constructed as a BTS (built-to-suit) development.

Already discounters account for over 40% of stores in Poland and their growth is creating demand for modern industrial and logistics space across the country. Having developed a vast amount of space for the leading players, Panattoni has become a tried-and-tested partner for this sector. This space includes 60,800 sqm in Silesia that wasdelivered to Action, an international chain of non-food discount stores with operations across eleven European countries. In mid-June this year, another giant development was opened for this Dutch company that already has 280 stores in Poland. Now Panattoni has been granted a EUR 27.5 mln loan to finance the completed centre.

“The distribution centre in Zakroczym is Action’s 13^th such centre in Europe and its third in Poland. Two of these Polish centres were successfully developed by Panattoni. The bank financing granted by Berlin Hyp demonstrates the trust financial institutions have in our developments for the non-food discount retail sector, which is growing particularly fast,” says Karina Trojańska, the Chief Financing & Operating Officer at Panattoni.

“Once again we are developing a made to measure building for Action. When we jointly opened the centre in Bieruń, the company had fewer than 180 stores but now the chain numbers 280. It is a wonderful feeling to play an important role in the success of a brand in Poland. The best proof of our competence in the Panattoni BTS department is yet another successful project to serve either retail or e-commerce,” says Marek Foryński, the BTS Managing Director at Panattoni.

The latest BTS development has been built in Zakroczym over an area of 53,000 sqm, which is enough space for up toeven 47,000 pallets. Such a huge volume will allow up to 160 Action stores to be supplied throughout Poland and in particular it will allow for further growth across the Warsaw region. The new distribution centre will stock a full range of non-food products. The company will also make use of a modern office section of almost 3,000 sqm. The development is to undergo BREEAM certification for a rating of ‘Excellent’.

“Panattoni has been very active across the Warsaw region having delivered almost 2 mln sqm of space. This is of huge benefit to the non-food discount sector. By creating made to measure buildings not only with bespoke technological and green solutions but also carefully selected locations within key markets, we can assure companies a competitive advantage and support them as they grow rapidly. With over 100 BTS centres in Central and Eastern Europe as well as yet another high-ceiling centre that has been handed over to Action, we have the evidence that our department is growing fast and further completions are just a question of time,” adds Maciej Zawada, the BTS Development Director.

The distribution centre in Zakroczym is to use sustainable solutions that include solar collectors for heating water, smart metres for electricity and water, and modern energy-efficient lighting. Moreover the company’s workers will be able to use charging stations for their electric vehicles. 

Year after year with Panattoni. In the first quarter of last year, the developer completed a BTS centre with an area of 60,800 sqm for Action. The made to measure solutions included a concrete mezzanine, a zone for packaging hazardous goods, an area equipped with a crane for recharging batteries for the 108 pallet trucks, press containers for recycling plastic and a special area with a press for recycling cardboard. Furthermore the centre was certified under BREEAM with a rating of ‘Excellent’ having scored 77.1%, which was, at the time, the record number of points for this category in Poland.