Zalando has announced plans to close its distribution centre in Erfurt, Germany, as part of a restructuring of its European logistics operations.
The German online fashion retailer stated that activities at the fulfilment site will conclude by September 2026.
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The move is expected to affect approximately 2,700 employees at the facility.
The decision follows a review of the group’s pan-European logistics setup, which assessed the combined operations of Zalando and About You after the two companies joined forces.
In its statement, Zalando said: “We haven’t taken this decision lightly. We are tremendously grateful for the contributions of every team member, and we deeply regret the impact these decisions will have on our colleagues.”
Alongside the Erfurt closure, the company plans to discontinue operations at three warehouses outside Germany.
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By GlobalDataThese facilities are operated by external service providers and currently serve both Zalando and About You.
Zalando said it would “immediately begin negotiations” with trade unions regarding options for impacted staff.
Discussions will also take place with the Erfurt Works Council on a balance of interests and a social plan.
The retailer said it has put in place “a comprehensive set of structured support offers”, developed with external experts, to help employees through the transition.
It added that it will cooperate with local authorities and civil society organisations to help reduce the regional impact of the closure.
Once the changes are completed, Zalando said its logistics network will consist of 14 fulfilment centres across seven countries.
The company also said it will continue to invest in logistics technology, automation and more sustainable practices as part of its broader ecosystem strategy.
It is targeting a mid-term compound annual growth of 5% to 10% in both gross merchandise volume (GMV) and revenue.
Zalando added that the restructuring is designed to support an integrated and scalable logistics platform serving its B2C and B2B activities, including orders fulfilled for Zalando, About You and partners using ZEOS Fulfilment.
In the third quarter of 2025, Zalando reported higher earnings and unveiled a new partnership with the German Football Federation (DFB), aiming to bolster its position in the sportswear segment.
In Q3, the company’s GMV rose 21.6% from a year earlier to €4.2bn ($4.84bn), while revenue increased 26.5% year-on-year to €3bn.
The figures were largely influenced by the acquisition of Hamburg-based About You, which was formally combined with Zalando in July 2025.
