25 Years of IKEA Distribution Centre in Jarosty. From 50 Employees to One of the Largest IKEA Distribution Hubs in the World

It’s been 25 years since the Distribution Centre first opened its doors, marking also the start of a contract logistics partnership between IKEA and FM Logistic. Located…

It’s been 25 years since the Distribution Centre first opened its doors, marking also the start of a contract logistics partnership between IKEA and FM Logistic. Located in Jarosty near Piotrków Trybunalski, the facility has evolved from handling deliveries to 12 stores into one of the key links in IKEA’s supply chain in Central and Eastern Europe. Its history mirrors the broader transformation of the Polish logistics sector over the last 25 years.

In 2001, the Jarosty Distribution Centre operated with about 50 employees, managing deliveries to 12 stores across Central and Eastern Europe. As IKEA’s retail network expanded, so did the scale of operations and the strategic importance of the facility. In the years that followed, the centre continued to expand to keep pace with evolving supply chain demands.

“The growth of our Center is, above all, about the people. Today, it’s a close-knit team of nearly 600 people, consisting primarily of FM Logistic employees and IKEA employees. Among them are people who remember our very first day of operation. Over the past 25 years, we’ve gone through a technological revolution together and completely transformed the way we work – guided by the principle of combining manual and technological processes. However, it is our consistent investment in the team’s skills that has allowed us to meet many challenges and the growing expectations of the market. That is why we can certainly celebrate this milestone anniversary under the slogan ‘Tradition meets technology – for 25 years’. In the years to come, we intend to continue investing in people and new technologies that will transform our distribution centre”, says Sebastian Kaczmarski, Director of Logistics and Distribution at IKEA Retail in Poland.

Over the past 25 years, the Distribution Centre in Jarosty has:

expanded to 157,000 square metres of warehouse space (equivalent to nearly 22 football pitches); achieved a capacity of nearly 300,000 pallets;

handled over 1 million trucks during loading and unloading;

forklift operators have covered 25 million kilometres;

expanded to include an automated high-bay warehouse measuring 34 metres high (equivalent to an 11-storey building);

acquired its own 770 kWp solar farm, which meets approximately 30 per cent of the warehouse’s power needs.

FM Logistic is responsible for comprehensive management of the Swedish group’s warehousing processes. The logistics operator oversees everything from handling deliveries to IKEA’s brick-and-mortar stores to fulfilling orders through the rapidly growing e-commerce channel.

“When we began working with IKEA, contract logistics in Poland was still in its infancy. IKEA, however, is a truly unique client, and the logistics operations we have been providing in Jarosty since IKEA’s very first days in Poland are equally unique. [AR1] Over the past 25 years, our services have undergone continuous transformation to match the shifting market demands faced by the client. Yet, our commitment to delivering top-tier service has remained constant, which is why the trust we earned 25 years ago remains with us to this day,” says Rafał Woźniak, Operations Director for Poland, FM Logistic.

Digitalisation and sustainable development

The history of the IKEA Distribution Centre in Jarosty illustrates how the logistics sector has transformed over the past 25 years. When the partnership first began, location of goods relied on physical pallet cards. Today, operations are powered by advanced Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) alongside automation and robotisation solutions.

A key feature of the facility’s infrastructure consists in its two high-bay automated warehouses, one standing 22 metres high and the other as tall as 34 metres. These solutions maximise warehouse space while minimising the amount of land required.

Another key milestone in the facility’s development came in 2018 with the launch of IKEA products direct distribution to e-commerce customers. It reflected a major shift across the entire industry: distribution centres evolved from merely supplying brick-and-mortar stores to meeting consumer demands for fast, flexible home delivery. Over the past 25 years, environmental standards have also changed. The Jarosty facility has long operated in accordance with sustainability principles, a commitment deeply rooted in IKEA’s values and the strategic ambitions of FM Logistic. The building is largely heated using geothermal energy, which in 2003 was the only installation of its kind in our country. The fleet is systematically being replaced with vehicles fitted with lithium-ion batteries.

Logistics close to the local community

The partnership between IKEA and FM Logistic goes well beyond business activities, bound by shared values and a strong commitment to social responsibility. Over the course of 25 years, IKEA has been involved in over 500 projects supporting local organisations and initiatives, many of which were delivered in close collaboration with FM Logistic. The IKEA Distribution Centre enjoys a special relationship with the primary school in Jarosty, which bears the name of Margaretha Kamprad, wife of IKEA’s founder.

“During the recent School Patron’s Day celebrations, we were delighted to host a student competition, where the winners were rewarded with a trip to Sweden to visit the IKEA Museum and the heart of the IKEA company – the store in Älmhult. Other students had the opportunity to visit our Distribution Centre and the IKEA store in Łódź, getting a behind-the-scenes look at retail and logistics operations. Our goal is to be more than just a major employer in the region, but above all a good, committed neighbour,” emphasises Paweł Bechciński, acting CEO and Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) for Poland, IKEA Retail.

25 years of partnership and experience

The Jarosty facility still employs people who remember its very first days. Over the past 25 years, successive generations of staff have joined them, bringing new skills and experience.

“Jarosty centre has changed almost beyond recognition over these 25 years. Processes, technology, and client expectations have all evolved, but the experience of those who have been with us from the beginning remains invaluable. Today, their expertise is combined with the skills of a new generation of employees. This synergy allows us to embrace innovative solutions while ensuring the stability of the operations we carry out for IKEA,” says Edyta Śmiechowicz, Warehouse Manager in Jarosty, FM Logistic.