Lidl's distribution centre was opened in Järvenpää in October 2018. The distribution centre serves more than 70 Lidl stores in southern Finland in the Hanko, Heinola and Hamina areas and now, after the latest expansion, the distribution centre has gained an additional space equivalent to about two football pitches.

- The first year in Järvenpää has gone quickly and after an initial learning phase, everyday life in the distribution centre has got off to a great start. Cooperation with the city has been excellent throughout the whole journey. The new distribution centre has become necessary for us now that our number of stores is growing, especially in Southern Finland," says Lidl's Regional Director Antti Partanen.

Responsible and smart investments

Every year, Järvenpää's Urban Development Committee awards the Järkevä Prize on the basis of proposals submitted by the citizens. On this Valentine's Day, the prize was awarded to Lidl.

The criteria for the award included the fact that Lidl uses only renewable energy and produces part of its own energy needs with 1,600 solar panels. The building has an intelligent energy management system that adapts the energy conditions according to the building's occupancy rate.

Sustainability is also reflected in the fact that the distribution centre transports products to a larger area and recyclable materials - glass, cardboard and, if necessary, metal - back to the distribution centre.

The distribution centre has an Excellent BREEAM environmental certificate and is the most environmentally friendly distribution centre in the Nordic countries - completely carbon neutral in its energy use.

Four hundred jobs

- Lidl's distribution centre has a regional economic impact of almost EUR 60 million and has created almost 400 new jobs in Järvenpää. Economic impact combined with high energy efficiency is currently a mega-trend in which the world is investing. The centre's impact represents exactly the kind of business activity we welcome in Finland's most carbon-neutral city," says Marko Lehenberg, Järvenpää' s Director of Vitality.

Lidl is the third largest employer in Järvenpää.

National impact in numbers

  • Employment impact 826 person-years
  • Around 2 000-2 500 pallets of products leave the store every day
  • Impact on total production around €158 million
  • Direct employment impact of 237 person-years
  • Indirect employment impact of 131 person-years
  • Total employment impact 368 person-years
  • Impact on total production around €59 million

Source: Impact of the operational phase of the distribution centre on the region (Luke)