Food and drink and much more – logistics. Let’s get really serious about retail!

If I were to ask you which is the most dynamic retail market of the 27 EU member states what would you say? I bet Poland would not top your list. Yes Poland is the most ‘on the move market’ in Europe in terms of sales growth, modernisation, sales and distribution systems and purchasing power.

Very much out of character for the UK we have not been very quick to realise this opportunity. Time to change!

On 15 March I have been to the biggest and most modern logistics centre in Central Europe. Gliwice, Tesco to be precise. Imagine all 4 of Poland’s UEFA Euro venues under 1 roof and you get the picture. In other words a warehouse 6 hectares large , 1 hectare of which is a whopping big fridge. I know – I have been inside it.

Tesco is the largest British investment in Poland and the broader Central and Eastern Europe. I thought you might be interested in a few facts so here we go:

• 420 stores
• 30,000 employees
• 50,000 lines
• 10,000 regional Polish products
• 1,500 suppliers

All that from a standing start just over 15 years ago. Pretty impressive stuff when we have just seen the largest economic downturn for many years. Tesco in this time has been a trailblazer in modern retail in Poland, but more than this Tesco has led the way in Polish food and drink exports. Tesco is a beacon of bilateral trade and investment excellence across the Emerging Europe region. The scale of it is hard to imagine. The opportunity is the biggest single growth market where British companies can make quick wins in a very dynamic sector.

Let us go back and take a look at the warehouse itself, one of the most modern buildings of its kind in Central Europe, stuffed full of IT innovation.

600 38 ton lorries in and out every 24 hours, about 20 an hour; 90,000 boxes and 25,000 lines in and out every day.

Anything from fresh fish to fresh flowers from lawn mowers to bbq’s. Amazing to watch, even better to be selling.

This is the logistics and IT nerve centre for a network of 11 regional distribution centres across CEE. Congratulations to Tesco on its achievement and congratulations to Poland for its IT skills and all the other local partners who have made Gliwice happen.

Yes this is Poland, this is retail, this is the forefront of logistics innovation – all aimed at delivering competitive customer value. Tesco Polska – Every little helps.

If you would like to learn more about retailing opportunities in Poland and how British companies can make a difference in Emerging Europe’s leading growth market contact UKTI Poland.