Amazon’s new logistics centre in Barcelona region to be open by autumn 2017

Barcelona (CNA).- The North American e-commerce giant Amazon will open its new logistics centre in El Prat de Llobregat by autumn 2017. The surface of the new infrastructure will be 60,000 m², the equivalent to 8 football pitches. Amazon emphasised that the location chosen, the same village where Barcelona El Prat airport is located, 10 kilometres away from Barcelona, is “not casual” as there are “territorial assets” such as El Prat airport but also Barcelona’s Port and “the economic sectors around the Llobregat delta”. Amazon Spain Fulfilment’s Director of Operations Fred Pattje, stated that total investment in the new centre will amount to 200 million euros and it is expected to create 1,500 jobs within three years of its opening.

Barcelona and El Prat de Llobregat “are strategic” for Amazon, stated the e-commerce giant’s Director of Operations Fred Pattje, both for the volume of sales registered in Spain and because it represents a gateway to the South of Europe which they “really like”. Pattje also noted the proximity of international business schools such as Esade and Iese which will allow them to “attract the talent” which the company requires. “The fact that the city is so close to key locations in Southern Europe as well as excellent access to human capital were the main reasons why Amazon decided to locate its second logistics centre in the Iberian Peninsula in Barcelona”, he added.

Amazon’s new infrastructure will be part of a greater logistics network in Europe, formed by more than 29 centres in 7 different countries. Together with the installations in San Fernando de Henares (Madrid), El Prat de Llobregat’s logistics centre will help Amazon to meet the current and future demand of their customers in Spain and Southern Europe. According to the company, both centres will guarantee that Amazon clients in the region have the same “quick and reliable” service they have in the rest of the world, especially around Christmas, which is the period of the year which registers the highest amount of sales. 

Barcelona to host first Amazon express delivery centre in Europe

Earlier this year,Amazon also announced that they had chosen the Catalan capital to set up their first express delivery centre in Europe. The aim is to attend to customers’ needs quicker and deliver products on the same day. The leading e-commerce company will establish this centre at 89 Rosselló Street, in Barcelona city. The building was previously the headquarters of the Editorial Gustavo Gili publishing house and its huge basement makes it an appropriate choice considering Amazon’s activities.

Being close to the customers would allow Amazon to reduce delivery times and include the sale of fresh products in their catalogue. This model was first implemented in New York a year ago and the centre in Barcelona will be the first of this kind to be set up in Europe.