On Tuesday, Colruyt Group unveiled its new distribution centre on the Ollignies site in the presence of Walloon Minister-President Adrien Dolimont, along with Regional Ministers for Infrastructure François Desquesnes and Economy and Employment Pierre-Yves Jeholet.
This centre, the second in Ollignies, Hainaut, focuses on non-food items, including stationery, cosmetics, textiles, and seasonal products. Between 200 and 250 people work at the Ollignies 2 site, depending on demand. Forty new jobs were created when the centre became operational a year ago, while the rest of the workforce transferred from the Hal site, which is now set for demolition.
“The building in Hal was outdated; it was 30 years old and no longer met current standards. Modernising it while continuing operations there was impossible,” explained Koen De Vos, Colruyt’s Supply Chain Director.
The investment totalled €51 million, partially supported by the Walloon Region with €1.8 million. The centre covers 22,000m2 and adjoins a warehouse dedicated to fast-moving food products. It boasts 5,200 solar panels expected to generate 2.6 million kWh annually.
“Colruyt Group is fully committed to achieving zero-emission transport by 2035. To reach this goal, we aim to evolve our distribution centres into zero-emission hubs. The strategic location of Ollignies 2 on the European TEN-T network highlights its potential as a zero-emission hub on a continental scale,” stated Stefan Goethaert, CEO of Colruyt Group.
“This is a strong signal for our region, demonstrating that companies can thrive on our territory,” commented Minister-President Dolimont. “Ollignies 2 exemplifies Industry 4.0 with a long-term vision, automation, and cutting-edge technology.”
With 7,300 employees, over 3,400 of whom are based in Hainaut Province, and 287 branches in Wallonia, Colruyt Group is the second largest private employer in Wallonia.
