The logistics business for the food group's dog and cat food brands (including Felix, Gourmet and Purina ONE), which was previously based in Alzenau in Lower Franconia, has been completely relocated to the new TST site in the Nibelungen city. Purina retail customers from the food retail and pet food specialist trade will now be served from Worms.

Five hall complexes with space for 100,000 pallets

"We constantly need more storage capacity," says the Regional Supply Chain Director of Nestlé Purina PetCare Germany, Thomas Reinarz. The order volume has grown significantly in recent years, Reinarz adds. A total of 14.7 million cats and 10.1 million dogs live in German households (source: German Pet Market 2019, IVH e.V.).

With a storage capacity of up to 100,000 pallets, the TST property, which consists of five hall complexes, not only offers space for the Euskirchen-based pet food manufacturer's range of around 600 products. According to Reinarz, the new distribution center is geographically at the heart of the flow of goods and is also the hub for value-added logistics services such as display construction and repacking activities, which are to be automated at the new location in the future.

The new service provider for Nestlé Purina PetCare is the Worms-based logistics specialist TST. "We are delighted that we were able to convince Nestlé Purina PetCare with our logistics concept," says TST Managing Director Frank Schmidt, who is no stranger to Nestlé. The logistics specialist has been managing supply chains for various of the Group's food products since 2011. Two and a half years ago, TST was asked whether it would also like to take part in the Purina tender. "Part of the concept was a conveniently located industrial site from our portfolio, on which we were able to start planning and building immediately," explains Schmidt, whose logistics company with 3,000 employees operates 75 sites in Europe and the USA; TST is regarded in the industry as a specialist for production-related retail and industrial logistics solutions.

Roof-greened gatehouse with driver's lounge

TST has invested around 42 million euros in the new logistics property, which was built according to the logistics provider's concept with planning partner pbb Solutions and construction company Goldbeck. Great importance was attached to sustainable construction methods and a detailed greening concept, which was implemented in cooperation with the city of Worms. The logistics facility, which is certified to Gold Standard by the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB), has a fresh air corridor planted with native plants - 800 trees and 8,000 shrubs. The roof of the gatehouse is also covered in greenery.

TST company boss Schmidt was particularly keen to set up a drivers' lounge, which is located in the gatehouse: "It is a matter of course for us to give drivers the opportunity to relax for a moment from the stressful everyday life on the road."

Figures, data, facts about the logistics property

- Multi-user logistics property with office and social areas and truck parking space

- Plot area: 97,268 sqm

- Total storage area: 52,000 square meters in 5 connected compartments

- Office/social areas: 2,225 sqm

- Driver's lounge: 120sqm

- Paved outdoor facilities: approx. 19,000 sqm

- Green spaces: approx. 23,000 square meters

- Storage capacity: approx. 100,000 pallets

- Docking ramps: 71

- DGNB Gold Certification

- Fresh air corridor with 800 trees and 8,000 shrubs

- Planning: pbb Solutions

- Construction company: Goldbeck

- Investment sum: 42 million euros