Maersk Unveils Middle East’s Largest Logistics Park

A Major Milestone for Maersk and Saudi Arabia

On August 22, 2024, Maersk, the global leader in integrated container logistics, marked a significant achievement by inaugurating its largest logistics park in the Middle East, located at Jeddah Islamic Port, Saudi Arabia. This state-of-the-art facility, sprawling over 225,000 square meters and developed at a cost of $250 million, is a cornerstone of Maersk’s ambitious strategy to bolster its logistics capabilities in the region. It aims to meet the growing demand for efficient, integrated supply chain solutions across the Middle East.

Strategic Location and Comprehensive Services

The park’s location at Jeddah Islamic Port, one of the busiest and most strategically important ports in Saudi Arabia, underscores its critical role in the region’s logistics landscape. The facility is designed to serve as a hub for a wide range of industries, including retail, automotive, technology, and pharmaceuticals. It offers a comprehensive suite of services, from multimodal transportation options to temperature-controlled warehousing, ensuring that businesses can efficiently manage their supply chains from a single, centralized location. The park is also equipped with advanced customs clearance capabilities, which will streamline the movement of goods and reduce lead times, further enhancing the efficiency of regional and global trade.

Sustainability at the Heart of Operations

A defining feature of Maersk’s new logistics park is its strong emphasis on sustainability. In line with the company’s global commitment to reducing its environmental impact, the facility incorporates several eco-friendly initiatives. Notably, 70% of the park’s energy requirements are met through a large solar panel array, significantly reducing its carbon footprint. Additionally, the park employs electric-powered equipment and vehicles for its operations, minimizing emissions and contributing to a greener supply chain. These initiatives are not only beneficial for the environment but also align with global trends towards more sustainable business practices, positioning Maersk as a leader in the green logistics movement.

Supporting Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030

The opening of this logistics park is closely aligned with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, an ambitious blueprint aimed at diversifying the Kingdom’s economy and reducing its dependency on oil exports. By enhancing the logistical infrastructure at Jeddah Port, Maersk’s facility is set to play a crucial role in facilitating trade, attracting foreign investment, and boosting economic growth in Saudi Arabia. The park is expected to support the development of local industries, create job opportunities, and contribute to the overall modernization of the Kingdom’s logistics sector.

Strategic Importance for Global Trade

As global supply chains continue to evolve, the need for integrated and efficient logistics solutions has never been more critical. Maersk’s new logistics park in Jeddah is a testament to the company’s forward-thinking approach and its commitment to addressing the complex demands of modern logistics. The facility’s strategic location at Jeddah Port, combined with its cutting-edge capabilities, positions it as a key node in the global supply chain, facilitating the seamless movement of goods across the Middle East and beyond.

By establishing the largest logistics park in the Middle East, Maersk is not only reinforcing its presence in the region but also contributing to the broader global trade ecosystem. The Jeddah Islamic Port is already a vital gateway for trade, and with the addition of this advanced logistics facility, it is poised to become an even more critical hub for businesses looking to optimize their supply chains.

The inauguration of Maersk’s logistics park at Jeddah Port marks a significant advancement in the Middle East’s logistical capabilities. This development not only strengthens Saudi Arabia’s position as a regional logistics leader but also underscores Maersk’s commitment to sustainability and innovation in global trade. As the facility begins operations, it is expected to play a pivotal role in driving economic growth, supporting Vision 2030, and enhancing the efficiency of supply chains across the Middle East and beyond.

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Greggs invests in manufacturing and logistics site

UK food-on-the-go retailer, Greggs, have announced it’s entering into a lease agreement for a new state-of-the-art frozen production and logistics facility in Derby, Derbyshire.

Greggs’ strategic growth plan, announced in 2021, set out ambitious expansion targets requiring investment in significant supply chain capacity. At 12 May 2024, Greggs had 2,500 shops trading and it expects to open between 140-160 net new shops during 2024. The longer-term target is to have significantly more than 3,000 shops trading in the UK.

The new facility is being developed at SmartParc SEGRO Derby on a high-tech food manufacturing site in Spondon, Derby. Greggs will occupy a 23-acre plot on the campus. Following the construction of the building by the landlord, Greggs will develop the facility and install state-of-the-art manufacturing and logistics equipment to optimise the efficiency of operations on site. The site is expected to open in late 2026 and create up to 600 jobs.

The new purpose-built facility will provide additional manufacturing capacity for products – including new savoury and sweet production lines – as well as logistics for frozen storage and fully automated robotic shop order picking and distribution solutions from Swisslog, one of the world’s leading logistics automation companies. The facility will also have additional capacity to enable further investments to meet future category growth, innovation and development, including the capacity for at least five manufacturing platforms and the potential for new production lines to be commissioned to meet volume demand.

The site has been designed with a focus on sustainability including the use of an onsite shared Energy Centre (a centralised heating and cooling system that recycles heat from refrigeration plants across the estate), a rainwater harvesting system, PV panels, EV charging points and a secure bike storage to help reduce local emissions.

Roisin Currie, Chief Executive at Greggs commented: “We are delighted to announce our new state-of-the-art facility at SmartParc SEGRO Derby. This purpose-built site offers significant flexibility to add new capabilities and lines as our business evolves. This is a significant step in our supply chain investment and will provide much-needed manufacturing and logistics support to power our ambitious growth plans.”

Jackie Wild, CEO at SmartParc said: “It is our ultimate vision that SmartParc SEGRO Derby becomes a hub for forward-thinking food businesses seeking sustainable and efficient operations, a collaborative work space and a first-class location with excellent connectivity, whilst also putting their people first. Greggs embodies this approach and we are immensely proud to welcome such a cherished food business to the site.”

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