Financial Services, Good for Business, Investments, Latvia, Logistics, Markets and Companies, Retail

He indicated that the new logistics center is not only one of the retail industry's largest projects in the Baltics but also the largest and most advanced logistics center in the Baltics. The reconstruction of the logistics center was financed by Rimi's Swedish parent ICA Group.

Sesemann said that the logistics center will be used organize product deliveries to stores in Latvia, as well as partly to stores in Lithuania and Estonia, thus optimizing the delivery process in the entire Baltic supply network.

The Rimi Baltic CEO revealed that additional investment is planned in the construction of a centralized kitchen and automation solutions. 

Rimi Latvia CEO Valdis Turlais said that the furbishing of the new logistics center will continue until next summer. The necessary equipment for storing frozen products will be installed at the center by the end of this year, and the automation project will be completed and fresh food products transferred to the center by next summer.

Riga mayor Martins Stakis (For Development/For) said that investment attraction is one the city council's main objectives and said he was glad that investment from an European country has been made in Riga. Stakis called Rimi Baltic an important enterprises for the Latvian economy, a dutiful taxpayer and reliable partner. 

According to Rimi Baltic, the new logistics center will be supplied with products for deliveries to Latvian supermarkets, as well as part of the assortment of Lithuanian and Estonian supermarkets, thus optimizing the delivery process throughout the Baltic supply network. The new logistics center will provide more than 700 jobs.

After the renovation and expansion of the Deglava warehouse building, implemented by construction contractors from Lithuania YIT Lietuva and Latvia's SIA Bukoteks, the total size of the building has increased from 26,500 square meters to 84,000 square meters. The total area of the largest space - 74,000 square meters - will be occupied by premises for logistics operations, 2,000 square meters will be equipped with a central kitchen, and 8,000 square meters - office space.

Rimi Latvia in 2019 generated EUR 917.201 mln in turnover, up 2.6% on year, while the company's profit was EUR 33.16 mln, a 26.8% drop from a year before.

Founded in 1992, Rimi Latvia is fully owned by Rimi Baltic, a member of the Swedish retail group ICA.