Warnaco, an American supplier of clothing brands Calvin Klein and Speedo, amongst others, is to build an EDC at the Borchwerf II logistics estate. The American multinational is set to open the 30,000-m² EDC in May next year in the municipality of Halderberge near Roosendaal. Warnaco's new EDC will be constructed right next to the new Jan de Rooij distribution centre. The new European head office will simultaneously be constructed, adjoining the distribution centre.

Centralising logistics
The logistics centre will soon house a staff complement of 325 who are already employed in extant Warnaco branches at the Moerdijk logistics estate and in distribution centres in France and Italy. Warnaco will be closing these in order to centralise all its activities in Borchwerf II.

Further employment
The American company is expecting to expand dramatically and believes it will require an additional 175 employees over the next five years. "The focus will be on high-quality graduate-level employment in marketing, IT and other areas," says Cees Nuijten, head of acquisition at NV Rewin West-Brabant, which has been closely involved in the negotiations with Warnaco over a three-year period.

European competition
Cees Lok, an alderman for the  municipality of Halderberge, near the logistics hotspot of Roosendaal told the BN De Stem newspaper that he was delighted they managed to hook the big fish. "It is a solid and financially healthy company," he said. "An asset to the region." As a potential location, Borchwerf had to compete with logistics estates elsewhere in Europe, Belgium in particular.

Logistical network
Warnaco ultimately settled on the Netherlands and Borchwerf II, says Nuijten, thanks in part to its ‘advanced logistical network'.  "We will soon be able to stock every shop in Europe within 24 hours."

Source: http://www.logistiek.nl/, 7 December2009

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