Its privileged location, connections with the main European markets, and its port infrastructure have made Barcelona an increasingly attractive destination for large logistics companies. An attractiveness that translates into new investments and now adds a new chapter thanks to Lidl. The German supermarket chain has begun construction of a new logistics platform in the Logistics Activities Zone (ZAL) of the Port of Barcelona, a project in which it will invest 42.1 million euros and which will strengthen the weight of the Catalan capital within its European distribution network.
The project, jointly promoted with CILSA —the company that manages this logistics zone of the Port of Barcelona—, foresees the construction of a new 55,000 square meter warehouse, which is expected to become operational in mid-2027. Its commissioning will allow Lidl to expand by 50% the space it currently occupies in this area of the Port of Barcelona, located between Barcelona and El Prat de Llobregat: it will go from 110,000 to 165,000 square meters.
In addition, the new building will also stand out for its dimensions, as, with 15 meters of free interior height, it will become the tallest warehouse in the entire ZAL of the Port of Barcelona. For now, the works have already left behind one of the most complex phases, that of deep foundation, completed in September, and are currently in the structure assembly stage.
But the scope of the project goes beyond the expansion of the supermarket chain's facilities: the investment also consolidates Barcelona as a key piece of Lidl's logistics network in Southern Europe. The new warehouse will especially expand the company's capacity to store and distribute non-food products from the Catalan capital. For Albert Lavín, General Director of Expansion and Real Estate at Lidl Spain, the project "reaffirms the strategic commitment to Barcelona as a logistics hub." Lavín also recalls the economic impact that Lidl already has in the territory: according to company data, its activity generates, directly, indirectly, and induced, 0.64% of GDP and 0.88% of national employment.
Lidl's investment also marks a turning point for the development of the ZAL of the Port of Barcelona itself. With the construction of the new warehouse, CILSA will complete the urbanization and construction of all available logistics land in the park, which will have thus reached its maximum development. For Jordi Guerrero, general director of CILSA–ZAL Port, the agreement between Lidl and CILSA —formalized through a 15-year lease agreement, renewable— represents a double milestone: it culminates the development of the park and, at the same time, reinforces the confidence of a leading international operator in the ZAL Port.
One of the great attractions of this area is, precisely, its direct connection with port activity. In the case of Lidl, the proximity of the new warehouse to the BEST container terminal, operated by Hutchison Ports, will facilitate the connection of the facilities with international maritime flows. An especially relevant advantage for the company, which has its own shipping company, Tailwind Shipping Lines, and will be able to take advantage of this proximity to streamline imports, optimize transit times and gain efficiency in the supply chain.
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