ProLogis, the world’s largest owner, manager and developer of distribution facilities, said it will build a new, 137,000-square-foot warehouse in southwest France for Rip Curl, which makes equipment and apparel for the surfing and mountain communities.
The state-of-the-art facility will be developed on land recently acquired by ProLogis in the city of St. Geours de Maremne in the southwestern region of France. Australia-based Rip Curl plans to use the facility to distribute its complete range of products to its network of retailers throughout Europe.
In addition, the facility is set to have a 250 kilowatt solar array installed on the roof. ProLogis plans to sell the power generated by the solar panels, which will generate an estimated 275,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) of renewable energy per year, back to the local French utility. Construction on the building is scheduled for the first half of 2009.
“Were extremely pleased to announce this new agreement with Rip Curl at our first facility in the southwest of France,” said Ranald Hahn, managing director for ProLogis in northern Europe. “This region, which has long been known for its tourism and surfing culture, is developing into a strategic location for logistics due to the growing number of retail companies establishing operations in the area. The site also is ideal because it provides optimum solar irradiance for our latest solar installation, which will be our fourth in Europe.”
Rip Curl’s new facility is located along France’s A63 motorway, 150 kilometers south of Bordeaux and 80 kilometers west of the Spanish border. The building is expandable by 64,500 square feet; ProLogis also has the option to purchase land immediately adjacent to the site, which could extend the facility another 129,000 square feet.
Rip Curl is a privately owned company with operations in more than 60 countries across the globe. It makes technical equipment comprising surfboards, wetsuits, mountain wear, watches and eyewear, as well as a complete range of fashion/ beach-style apparel.
