Fast Retailing opened a ¥10 billion ($69.2 million) distribution center in Rotterdam, consolidating European operations under one roof as the Japanese retailer accelerates its global expansion plans.
The facility spans 110,000 square meters across a 145,000-square-meter site, matching the scale of a U.S. warehouse the Uniqlo parent company launched in 2021. The center houses specialized equipment for sorting, picking and packaging items tailored to Fast Retailing’s operations.
The investment comes as Fast Retailing reported record first-half results with consolidated revenue rising 12% to ¥1.79 trillion and operating profit jumping 18.3%. The company expects full-year revenue to reach ¥3.4 trillion, up 9.5% year-over-year.
However, the Rotterdam facility only handles products destined for physical stores, excluding the company’s growing online sales channel. Online sales account for approximately 15% of total sales, with European operations seeing roughly 20% digital penetration.
The consolidation effort brings together operations previously scattered across multiple European locations. Fast Retailing has been expanding aggressively in Europe, recently opening stores in Poland, Italy and the Netherlands, with plans for more than 20 major European locations.
The Dutch facility positions Rotterdam as Fast Retailing’s European distribution hub, supporting the company’s broader strategy to streamline its supply chain through what it calls the “Ariake Project.”
