Decathlon and Lidl to open new logistics centers in Barcelona

Barcelona continues to grow as a hub for logistics centers, with news that French sporting goods chain Decathlon and German supermarket chain Lidl plan to open new facilities in the city's port and in the nearby Zona Franca industrial estate.

Decathlon has rented a 96,000 square meter space in the port, with the aim of setting up a logistics center for the south of Europe, while Lidl has contracted a 61,000 square meter space in Zona Franca, also for its distribution in southern Europe.

According to the 'Expansión' business publication, Decathlon estimates that the new center will handle 60,000 containers of goods every year, with the new center set to be up and running in 2021.

Currently occupying a 50,000 square meter facility in the same area, the new center will effectively double Decathlon's presence in Barcelona, making it the second largest of its kind behind US online retailer Amazon's 210,000 square meter space in the same area.

Meanwhile, according to the TV3 television channel, Lidl's new center will be at the entrance of Barcelona's container port, in the El Pratenc industrial estate, which is actually comes under the jurisdiction of the nearby municipality of El Prat.

Lidl opens largest shop in Spain

Lidl was also in the news this week after it opened its largest shop in Spain, in the historic 'Tres Molinos' building, in Esplugues de Llobregat, which is next to Barcelona. The 1,800 square meter shop cost 15 million euros and will provide jobs for 45 people.