Auchan, an international retail group and a fixture of French retail since 1961, also holds a significant market share in Romania. The heart of its Romanian operation sits just outside Bucharest. From there, Auchan distributes up to 50,000 products to 33 hypermarkets, 7 supermarkets and 382 convenience stores. To support that volume, WDP combined five separate warehouses into a single integrated distribution centre, built and managed around Auchan’s specific requirements.

In short: a build-to-suit distribution centre developed by WDP for Auchan near Bucharest brings five warehouses together under one roof, supplying more than 400 points of sale across Romania every day.

Dan Fotescu, Auchan’s logistics director in Romania, is satisfied with how WDP, as developer and landlord, responds to the retailer’s specific needs. ​“Not only does the maintenance of our warehouse run smoothly,” he says. ​“WDP also knows exactly how to respond to our requests, with tailor-made advice and support.”

Thanks to WDP’s approach to customisation, Auchan can:

• control humidity levels in specific rooms
• set optimal temperatures throughout the site
• reserve dedicated space for specific products or suppliers
• rely on integrated protection and safety systems

The partnership is reinforced by the ongoing innovation WDP brings to its tenant. ​“WDP keeps innovating,” Dan concludes. ​“The solar panels on our roof support internal processes such as automation, and together with WDP we have further plans for using solar power.”

For Auchan, the collaboration with WDP shows how a purpose-built warehouse can become far more than storage space: an active partner in operational efficiency and in retail’s energy transition in Romania.