French sportswear retailer Decathlon inaugurated yesterday in Bucharest its first logistics center in South-Eastern Europe (SEE).

The investment amounted to EUR 4 million, Decathlon Romania CEO Jean Francois Mace said.

The Romanian logistics center will supply at least 30 stores in three countries in the region, namely Romania, Bulgaria and Greece. It covers 29,000 sqm. The investment in the product stocks, when the warehouse will operate at its maximum capacity, will total EUR 10 million.

The warehouse is located in Stefanestii de Jos, Ilfov County. It will have over 1.5 million sports items in stock. Decathlon will deliver between 50,000 and 180,000 products daily, depending on the season and orders. The design and planning work lasted about seven months.

By the end of the year, Decathlon will open two other stores in Romania. Its network will reach 22 stores, Decathlon Romania expansion manager Alexandru Domsa said yesterday.

The company estimates EUR 200 million in sales for this year.

editor@romania-insider.com