dm invests €230 million in new distribution center in Kronstorf

Harald Bauer, CEO of dm (in the middle), Thomas Köck (left) and Martin Engelmann (right)

In Austria, more than 230,000 customers shop daily at one of dm’s 381 stores, representing nearly 20 percent growth over the past three years, Medianet.at reports. The new center will not only supply the domestic market but also serve Slovenia and Italy, making international goods flows more efficient while reducing the ecological footprint.

Harald Bauer, CEO of dm, emphasized that state-of-the-art technologies will significantly boost productivity across the logistics network, enabling lower prices and creating around 300 new jobs. Sustainability plays a central role in the project: hybrid timber construction, green roofs, a photovoltaic system with 4,600 modules, geothermal heating, and a 6,000-square-meter green area are all part of the plan.

Construction is underway in the INKOBA Kronstorf-Hargelsberg industrial zone. Completion is scheduled for summer 2027, with operations starting in 2028. At the heart of the site will be a highly automated intralogistics system capable of handling up to 120,000 small-item orders and 60,000 pallet orders daily, plus 2,000 outbound pallets. Regional partners from Upper and Lower Austria are involved in the implementation, ensuring that much of the added value remains in the region.