Hildesheim, May 15 - With the initial operation of the 20,000 square-metre warehouse in Hildesheim scheduled for early 2009, REWE Group is continuing to optimise its warehouse logistics for REWE-Commercial Wholesale Customer Service (REWE Großverbraucher-Service – GVS).
"We are excited about making the highly modern warehouse location in Hildesheim into a hub for our commercial wholesale customer activities. The location, very close to the A7 motorway, is optimal for modern just-in-time logistics", said Thomas Wallrabenstein, Managing Director of REWE GVS, at a press conference in Hildesheim today, May 15. "With more than 3,000 square metres in floor area, one of the largest, most modern freezers in Lower Saxony is now in operation in Hildesheim." He added that Hildesheim’s Mayor Machens was an exemplary embodiment of future-oriented structural and labour-market policy.
In future, over 2,500 customers throughout Lower Saxony will be supplied with goods daily by around 50 lorries. The 300 workers will distribute an average of 200 tonnes of food each day. The product range at the warehouse encompasses some 8,000 items stored in three temperature zones. The investment in the new location is over 20 million euros. This location in Hildesheim draws its energy exclusively from renewable sources such as wind, water, sun, and biomass – just like REWE Group’s more than 6,000 stores (REWE, Penny, DIY toom Baumarkt, DIY B1 BauMarkt-Discount, ProMarkt), wholly-owned travel agencies (Atlas, Derpart), and warehouses nationwide. Comprehensive equipment and architectural elements for increasing energy efficiency and recapturing heat are also realised at the Hildesheim location. REWE GVS operates twelve warehouses in Germany – including Hildesheim – with a total floor area of over 100,000 square metres.
With a turnover of more than one billion euros in Germany, REWE GVS is the industry leader as the largest single company. After acquiring Stöver Frischdienst (2006), REWE GVS added customers from the fields of fast food businesses, petrol stations, and chain restaurants to its classic customer base of hotels / restaurants, company canteens, and social services. The "commercial wholesale customer" business at REWE Group earns a turnover of more than 6 billion euros once the turnover of its international activities in Switzerland and France (transGourmet) and its international cash-and-carry business (Fegro/Selgros) are taken into consideration; this total turnover makes it the European industry leader. REWE GVS is a part of Cologne-based REWE Group – one of the leading trading and travel and tourism groups in Europe, with a turnover of 45 billion euros, 280,000 employees, and over 12,000 stores.