The best food logistic hubs in Eastern Europe

Food business requires a strong logistic support, to organize supply chain as cost-effective as possible. The Eastern European food market is served from some matured and some emerging hubs.

Hungary

 M0 Motorway, Hungary

Budapest. The main logistic hub of Hungary (and maybe Eastern Europe) is Budapest. The M0 Motorway around the City is not a bypass only, but the location of several logistic parks and warehousing companies, developing ~3 million sq.meters (approx. 32 million sq.feet) industrial and logistic facilities. The US-based Prologis is the market-leader service provider in Hungary, and has almost 500k sq.meter (~5,3 million sq.feet) warehousing spaces in more logistic parks along the M0. Besides transportation infrastructure, developed logistic services are the keys to success.

  

Rewe Group's logistic hub in Karcag

Karcag. The emerging hub of Karcag Industrial Park is located by the main route nr.4, which connects Budapest and Western Europe to Ukraine and Russia. Romania, Ukraine and Slovakia can be reached in 2 hours by truck. The Germany-based food retail company, REWE (Penny Market) has the Eastern-Hungarian distribution centre in the Park. The REWE evaluated the logistic potential of Karcag Industrial Park: the nearness of suppliers and consumers.
Subsidized rental fees are under 3€/sq.meter/month (under 3.3€/sq.feet/year).

Poland

Poland's logistics map 2012

The polish logistic market is devided in 3 parts: the Sector I is the City of Warsaw, Sector II are the logistics parks around Warsaw, and Sector III are the logistic locations outside Warsaw. Although the Warsaw-sectors with ~2,5 million sq.meters are the largest logistics sites of Poland, the food market are supported mainly from smaller hubs, like Lodz. Average rental fees are between 3-3.5 €/sq.meter/month.

Lodz. Lodz is located in the cross-road of north-east A1 motorway and the east-west A2 motorway, in the heart of Poland. More logistics-focused facilities provides A-class warehouses on 1 million sq.meters. The Goodman Lodz Logistic Centre has 27k sq.m total size, and the Logistic City in Piotrkow (Lodz Metro Area, closed to Lodz International Airport) with its 450k sq.m is one of the largest facility in Poland.

Czech Republic

 Czech logistic market 2012

Food processing is not a leading industry in the Czech Republic, however food consumption makes it a relevant marketplace in Central and Eastern Europe.

Prague. The logistic centres around Prague are available for 2.5-4.5€/sq.meter/month (2.8-5€/sq.feet/year) rental fees. The Airport Logistic Park has a 56,000 sqm hall development in the surrounding of Prague International Airport.
Brno. Brno, the second largest city of the country is also the second most relevant logistics center. The CEE market leader Prologis will launch soon a brand new development called Prologis Logistic Park Brno on 90,000 sq.meter

Related content
If you are interested in food business, do not miss the presentation of Dr. Csorjan, FoodSites' chief editor:

How to select your new food processing site in Eastern Europe? from Balazs Csorjan dr.

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