Local dignitaries joined officials from FrieslandCampina to get the construction of the dairy company’s new distribution center in the Netherlands officially started earlier this week.

Mayor Korteland of the Municipality of Meppel, Marcel van Berlo, General Director of District 54 Vastgoed, and Gerard Menting, Corporate Director Real Estate of FrieslandCampina joined together to mark the start the construction of the new center in Meppel. 

A new distribution center of 31,000 m2 is being built in the industrial zone Meppel Noord II in Meppel over the coming months. It will be used for storage and transfer of FrieslandCampina dairy products intended for the export markets and will have the capacity for 45,000 pallets. 

FrieslandCampina will store and transfer dairy products coming from its production locations in Beilen and Meppel in the distribution center. These activities are presently spread over four warehouses in the Netherlands; Hoogeveen, Heerenveen, Meppel and Veendam.

The decision for building a new distribution center in Meppel was taken after a period of close consultation between FrieslandCampina, the Municipality of Meppel and District 54 Vastgoed. FrieslandCampina will hire the new building after completion of the construction works.

Sustainable development
Apart from annual efficiency savings, a substantial reduction of 1.5 million transport kilometers will be achieved, which means a reduction of the emission of CO2 by 648,000kg, according to the company. 

The new building will be certified by BREEAM as "very good," which means that the construction works are performed and in a sustainable way using sustainable materials. BREEAM certification is globally the most important and most commonly used sustainability certification for buildings