Colruyt Invests €51m To Expand Distribution Centre In Wallonia

The facility, in which the retail group has invested €51 million, is located next to the existing warehouse for fast-moving goods and aims to optimise logistical efficiency.

The Walloon region partially supported the investment, highlighting Wallonia’s advantageous location for large groups due to its proximity to major European cities and strong transport network.

The 22,000-square-metre facility will store and ship 15,000 non-food items – such as stationery, cosmetics, and seasonal goods – for Colruyt Meilleurs Prix and OKay stores.

This will allow customers to conveniently purchase everyday groceries and non-food products in one location.

The distribution centre uses robots for inventory management and product-picking, allowing employees to focus on more complex tasks, ESM reports.

Sustainability Focus

Sustainability is also a key feature, with 5,200 solar panels generating over 2.6 million kWh annually, reducing CO₂ emissions by 1.2 million kilograms per year.

Smart LED lighting, natural light domes, and adiabatic cooling – wherein air is cooled without exchanging heat with its surroundings – further enhance energy efficiency, the retailer added.

Colruyt Group is aiming for zero-emission transport by 2035 and developing its distribution centres into zero-emission hubs.

The Ollignies II site already supports green-hydrogen refuelling for trucks, representing a step towards this goal.