Landgard has begun the construction of a central fruit and vegetable packing and logistics facility in Berbersdorf, Saxony after a lengthy planning process.
On 15 November the fresh produce marketer marked the beginning of building work, with an event attended by numerous local representatives.
The building of the new site, which is due for completion in mid-2017, is Landgard’s first major construction project since the company’s restructuring, which saw efforts to improve or divest under-performing units.
Managing director of Landgard Obst & Gemüse Chemnitz-Dresden Jens Pawlik, who will preside over operations at the new logistics centre, believes the new will open up new opportunities for the company. He said: 'With the construction of the new logistics centre, we are reacting to our company’s increased need for space in the region.
“The existing facilities in Chemnitz and Dresden are operating at capacity. By connecting them at the new Berbersdorf site, we are boosting efficiency, and the size of the site will allow us to operate a packing multi-centre as well as a logistics platform. This will allow us to serve our customers even more purposefully and individually.'
The new Landgard site will cover an area of approximately 8 hectares, and in the first construction phase around 10,000 square metres of hall space will be built. Once finished, 20 to 25 new jobs will be created, with a total of 125 people employed at the Berbersdorf site.
The chairman of Landgard’s board Armin Rehberg welcomed the municipality of Striegistal’s decision to invest in the site. He said: 'As a modern and successful market-producing cooperative, we are committed to forward-thinking, long-term development. To achieve this we need excellent infrastructure at our sites. The business area in Berbersdorf fulfils our location requirements and offers the best conditions to work successfully here.'
The Berbersdorf location will play an important role in the Landgard Group’s strategic development, Rehberg added. At the new site, the firm will combine all of its activities related to procurement from Asia as part of the firm’s ongoing internationalisation.
