82 782
Fashion Jobs
MACY'S
Manager, Asset Protection
Permanent · BAKERSFIELD
MACY'S
Asset Protection Detective, Tacoma - Full Time
Permanent · TACOMA
MACY'S
Asset Protection Security Guard, Aventura - Part Time
Permanent · AVENTURA
MACY'S
Material Handler, Chicago - Full Time (3220)
Permanent · MINOOKA
MACY'S
Asset Protection Detective, West Covina - Full Time
Permanent · WEST COVINA
MACY'S
Asset Protection Detective, Westminster - Part Time
Permanent · WESTMINSTER
MACY'S
Asset Protection Detective, Irving Mall - Part Time
Permanent · IRVING
MACY'S
Retail Fulfillment Associate, Silver Lake - Part Time
Permanent · COEUR D'ALENE
MACY'S
Retail Fulfillment Associate, Memorial City - Part Time
Permanent · HOUSTON
MACY'S
Material Handler, Chicago - Full Time (3280)
Permanent · MINOOKA
NEW BALANCE
Inbound Logistics Manager
Permanent · LAWRENCE
SPECIALIZED
Fulfillment Specialist FT (OH)
Permanent · COLUMBUS
STAND OUT FOR GOOD
Brand Rep (Sales Associate)
Permanent · WILMINGTON
STAND OUT FOR GOOD
Brand Rep
Permanent · LEXINGTON
EBAY
Authentication Ops Project Manager
Permanent · SAN JOSE
RALPH LAUREN
PT Operations
Permanent · BAL HARBOUR
ADIDAS
Project Manager - Global Team Sports
Permanent · PORTLAND
QVC
Security Shift Leader
Permanent · SUFFOLK
QVC
on Camera Talent Recruitment & Casting Partner
Permanent · WEST CHESTER
BLOOMINGDALE'S
Asset Protection Visual Security Officer, Part Time - Norwalk
Permanent · NORWALK
BELK
Store Fulfillment Associate - Full Time
Permanent · FRANKLIN
BELK
Asset Protection Lead - Full Time
Permanent · AUBURN
Published
Apr 9, 2021
Reading time
4 minutes
Download
Download the article
Print
Text size

Kering overhauls logistics

Published
Apr 9, 2021

Sales growth and the sky-rocketing popularity of e-commerce have driven Kering to rethink its logistics. On Thursday, the French luxury group, whose brand portfolio includes Gucci, Saint Laurent and Balenciaga, unveiled its gigantic new ultra-modern logistics hub in Trecate, near Novare, in Piedmont, Italy. The project, which has been described as "ambitious" by the company's management, brings together all of Kering's European logistics and operational flows at one site and seeks to strengthen the group's global logistics capabilities. 


The Trecate hub's solar panels will cover its energy needs and more - Kering


"Over the last few years, the group has grown significantly and at a sustained rhythm. This trend has accompanied a similar shift in the whole luxury sector, notably due to the growth of e-commerce, which has necessitated ever faster deliveries, while consumer expectations have also raised in terms of service and experience. In order to respond to their current and future needs, we have completely redesigned our logistics structures," said Kering CEO Jean-François Palus during a live videoconference from Trecate. 

"Our previous storage centers were fragmented. Focusing everything in a single location will allow us to reduce costs and delivery times across all sales channels. This project changes everything. From now on, we are going to be dealing directly with the end customer. The rhythm will be completely different and much faster too. It will change our flows, our transport methods, our IT systems. There will be changes at every level, representing quite a large part of our operations," he continued. 

As well as this new hub, which centralizes all of the group's European operations in Italy, Kering has also reorganized its global logistics, as explained by the company's director of supply chain and logistics, Sorin Ciocan. "We have transferred our central American warehouse to a new site in Wayne, New Jersey, which has been operational for a year. A few days ago we also opened a new logistics hub in Dubai, which will serve the Middle East, and we are doing the same for Asia, with a hub that will probably be set up in Singapore."
 
Kering has managed its European logistics from Switzerland for the last 20 years, using a network of some 20 warehouses, through which almost all of its brands' stock and deliveries transited. But this model had reached saturation point. In 2019, the group therefore launched its Italian project, which already has "a delivery and shipping capacity 2x larger than that of the previous structure in Switzerland." Some of the staff from Kering's prior European network have been moved to Italy. The only site that the company is leaving active in Switzerland is its historic headquarters in Cadempino, Ticino, where "certain competences will be maintained."

Located between Turin and Malpensa International Airport, some 55 km away from Milan, the Trecate hub sits "in a strategic position at the key communications crossroads of northern Italy." The facility is spread over 162,000 square meters – the equivalent of 20 rugby fields, as pointed out by Kering – and allows the group to "take over the management and rationalization of the whole logistics process," while also "controlling the supply chain from end to end." A first building was opened in March 2020, while a second measuring 100,000 square meters is scheduled to begin operations in September. The whole site is expected to be totally operational by 2022. 


Jean-François Palus, live from Trecate - DR


According to Kering, the impressive flexibility of the site, which "combines state-of-the-art technology and automation" is one of its main advantages. "The hub will meet the demand from regional warehouses, retail stores, wholesalers and e-commerce worldwide, and will significantly increase the group’s capabilities in terms of shipping (up to 80 million pieces per year) and storage (up to 20 million pieces). It will also allow to reduce lead times by 50% by increasing the speed of deliveries and to enhance collaboration with the group’s brands," added the company. 

Palus did not divulge the size of the investment in the project, revealing only that it is the company's "largest investment in Italy." "It's not a question of money, but of competences. We have invested in the implementation of a very efficient team in terms of expertise and technology," he added. 

The Trecate hub is run by Kering's long-term logistics partner, XPO Logistics, which employs the site's workforce. The number of employees at the facility is currently 250 and should rise to 900 by the end of 2022. 

Designed to reduce energy and water consumption, the hub has been constructed with cutting-edge technology, with a particular focus on sustainable development. The huge expanse of photovoltaic panels installed at the site – one of the largest rooftop solar energy systems in Europe – will cover the hub's energy needs, as well as those of the majority of the group's boutiques in Italy. 

Copyright © 2024 FashionNetwork.com All rights reserved.