Logistics real estate company Prologis has entered an agreement to expand Footway’s facility in Eskilstuna. The expansion comprises about 25,000 square meters which will more than double the total warehouse area, amounting to nearly 48,000 square meters. The entire project will be carried out in record time, with construction set to begin immediately. The expansion will have BREEAM “Very Good” certification and is expected to be completed in summer 2021.
Eskilstuna has become established in recent years as an expansive logistics location. It is home to Sweden’s largest intermodal terminal and the location combines three different modes of transport: rail, motorway, and air. The location is only 70 km from Stockholm and 3.8 million residents live within a 60-minute radius.
The municipality is currently carrying out an intensive logistics initiative in the area and the project has moved at a record-fast pace: obtaining the building permit and completing the design to the beginning of construction took only 3 months, with just over 8 months of construction ahead, even though some work will be done in winter.
“The quick start of the project and expected construction time were made possible by good relationships with our customer and our subcontractors, together with our extensive experience with this kind of construction project both in Sweden and internationally. We’ve also received excellent support from the municipality, for example with very quick processing of the building permit,” says Gunnar Gillholm, Country Manager Prologis Nordics.
An environmental approach will also characterize the expansion. The new construction will have BREEAM “Very Good” environmental certification. Among other things, this certification involves assessments of the building’s energy consumption, indoor climate, water consumption and waste management. Other factors include project management, the building’s location relative to public transport, construction materials and pollution caused by the building.
“Prologis focuses on being a leader in sustainability from a broad perspective. Together with our customers, we want to push the development forward to ensure our properties are always at the cutting edge in this area. Not just when it comes to reducing waste and electricity and water consumption, but also by building modern, attractively located properties with a long lifespan that meet our customers’ business needs,” says Gunnar Gillholm.
Footway’s future-proofing actions
Footway is expanding because the company is launching a brand-new e-commerce platform with a common global infrastructure for all of the group’s stores. The initiative creates new growth opportunities, and to ensure the capacity of the warehouse and logistics solution, Footway is investing in an expansion of the warehouse in Eskilstuna, which will complement the Helsingborg operation.
“The expansion is an important initiative for the future and a key part of the work on our new e-commerce platform. As part of the focus on data and automation in our new platform, the new warehouse will also feature enhanced automation for improved efficiency. The fact that we’re simultaneously doubling our warehouse space clearly demonstrates our intention to grow; the warehouse is expected to have capacity for sales of over SEK 10 billion,” says Daniel Mühlbach, CEO of Footway.