''Despite the fact that the Baltic countries are already cooperating effectively in logistics, this large-scale project will ensure that Riga becomes the central logistics point. This project is also the next step in the expansion and modernization of Rimi Latvia,'' Turlais said.
He pointed out that Riga has been selected as the location of the project due to its geographical position, as well as the favorable investment environment.
Rimi Baltic plans on investing €64m in its new central logistics complex and €11m in the expansion of its head office in Riga. The investment project will improve and enlarge the existing head office in Riga, making it more comfortable to the company's employees.
The center's total floor space will exceed 70,000 square meters, while the size of the Rimi office will be close to 10,000 square meters after the expansion.
As the board chairman of Rimi Latvia Valdis Turlais emphasized, the new logistics center will be constructed within the next four years and will become the central logistics center for Rimi in the Baltics.
As reported, Rimi Latvia retail chain generated €785.281 million in 2015 sales, 6% up from a year before, while the company's profit rose 16 percent to €27.427 million.
Rimi Latvia belongs to Rimi Baltic, owned by Swedish retail group ICA.
The retail chain of Rimi Latvia currently comprises 119 stores of three formats: 31 Rimi hypermarkets, 44 Rimi supermarkets and 44 Supernetto discount stores. Rimi Latvia operates the Rimi and Supernetto stores in 28 cities and town across Latvia.
Meanwhile the Competition Council on January 12 forbid Rimi to open a store at the Domina shopping center in place of a Prisma store closed in May last year, reported Latvian Radio Wednesday. The council said the expansion would hurt competition.
It was the first time in eight years a similar move had been made.