AO World is the leading online provider of household appliances and consumer electronics in the UK.The company is known for great service and fast delivery times. In order to expand its business in the European market, AO wanted to open a regional headquarters in Bergheim, near Cologne. Bergheimis in the center of Europe in close proximity to the Dutch border and allows AO to offer fast delivery to Germany and the Netherlands.
Most German logistics hot spots suffer from a scarcity of space. Finding a plot of land the right size for an e-commerce distribution center with adequate road connections and a central location in Germany was a challenging task. Furthermore, AO desired a short development and construction time in order so that it could enter the European market as quickly as possible.
AO was already a Prologis customer. It leases a BREEAM “Excellent” accredited energy-efficient building in the UK, in Crewe, near Manchester. And because AO appreciated the quality of the facility and the excellent service, the company chose Prologis as the developer for its European headquarters. AO placed its trust in Prologis to develop a facility to fits its needs in the fastest time possible. Prologis purchased two separate plots of land in Bergheim that are next to each other: 30,000 square meters from the city of Bergheim and 54,000 square meters from RWE Power AG.
The groundbreaking ceremony was held in early September 2015, and the grand opening took place on October 13, 2016.