OREANDA-NEWS  On 03 December was announced, that a new distribution centre of "Lenta" in Moscow region put into operation. The site accepts goods of about 50 suppliers of Central, Privolzhsky, Southern and Ural regions. The volume of the goods passing through the warehouse is 5 thousand pallets per month.

The central distribution centre (CDC) is located in the village Chernaya Gryaz of Solnechnogorsky district of Moscow region within 13 km from Moscow Ring Road by Leningradskoe highway in immediate proximity to Terminals 1 and 2 of the international airport Sheremetyevo. The total area of the warehouse is 17 000, sq.m., capacity: 38 000 pallets. The warehouse is managed by ItellaNLC (National Logistical Company) with which "Lenta" already has experience of cooperation in Saint-Petersburg. The director for logistics of "Lenta" Vladimir Gorichev says: "The tender for search of logistical operator begun about one year back. The difficulty was that the majority of warehouse complexes are designed with orientation at goods storage that does not allow to process the goods with high handling capacity. And it is our basic requirement to a warehouse. The main non-standard condition that we required was the need for management by a logistical operator not only of the warehouse, but also of the transport. We didn’t find a suitable candidate at once, as 3PL services are rendered only by a few companies".

Just like at the ItellaNLC warehouse in Saint-Petersburg, in CDC in the Moscow region dry food and non food good are handled by the principle of shelf storages. Total approximately 700 SKU. Shipments of the goods from the warehouse have been carried out since November, 7. The basic advantage of opening of the DC in the Moscow region - reduction of expenses for transportation of the goods.

Shipments from the warehouse are carried out to trading complexes of "Lenta" network, except for the North-West region (14 TC in Saint-Petersburg, one in Petrozavodsk and one in Velikiy Novgorod). Deliveries to these stores are carried out from own distribution centre of "Lenta" and DC of ItellaNLC in Petersburg. In connection with beginning of operation of the CDC in Moscow region, DC of ItellaNLC in Petersburg will be closed in January 2009. Longer-term prospects have been also developed. Vladimir Gorichev comments: "We plan to work in еру warehouse in Moscow area with ItellaNLC until the end of 2009, then we plan independently to take on long-term lease a warehouse in this region. At the initial stage it will be also managed by ItellaNLC, then by us". Already now at the site in Moscow region work employees of the retail network.

For reference purposes:  At present time mixed system of delivery of the goods is used in "Lenta". It includes direct deliveries to trading complexes, deliveries through distribution centers in Petersburg, Novosibirsk and Moscow area. Also, for deliveries of fresh vegetables and fruit we use a specialized DC in Saint-Petersburg, providing daily turnover of 200 tons. Products from this DC are delivered to stores of "Lenta" trading network across Russia. The company created its own logistical service which is supposed to provide reliability of deliveries and to cut down the expenses for logistics. In the area of competence of "Lenta" logistical service lies management of orders, inventory control and internal moving of the goods, as well as management of own and hired warehouses. In addition, "Lenta" enjoys services of transportation and forwarding of cargoes in Petersburg and regions. ItellaNLC provides transport component in Moscow and Saint-Petersburg. "Lenta" does not yet have its personal vehicle fleet.

Personal distribution center of "Lenta" in Saint-Petersburg

Personal distribution center with the area of 20 thousand m2 was launched by "Lenta" in Shushary, Petersburg, in the beginning of 2007. The warehouse has been designed especially for "Lenta". Investments into construction of the center amounted to approximately USD 20 million In the Central Distribution Warehouse in Saint-Petersburg three technologies of goods handling are used: shelf storage, cross-docking – transportation of the goods to specific TC and pick-by-line – necessary completing and transportation.