Finnish retailing conglomerate, Kesko is building a new logistics centre in Nurmijärvi, Finland, and has selected KNAPP as its automation partner for the first phase of the facility. The automation will strengthen the capacity and flexibility of Kesko’s supply chain and support business growth well into the future.
Kesko is one of Finland’s leading grocery retailers and wholesalers and its new central warehouse in Nurmijärvi is being built for the company’s foodservice business for the Hotel, Restaurant and Catering (HoReCa) sector. Construction work began at the beginning of 2026.
With the investment, Kesko is strengthening the long-term capacity and flexibility of its logistics operations. Logistics has become an increasingly important competitive factor in the grocery retail and foodservice industry in recent years. Customers expect faster deliveries, higher delivery reliability and broader product ranges, placing new demands on supply chains.
“We are building an automation solution designed to serve our business for decades to come,” says Pekka Tala, Development Director at Kesko. “That is why it was important for us to find a solution that not only meets today’s needs, but also enables us to develop our operations in the future.”
According to Tala, the fundamentals of logistics automation have remained similar in many respects, but system performance and reliability have advanced considerably. Software also plays a growing role, as automation solutions guide operations more intelligently than before.
KNAPP was selected as the project’s automation partner after a long preparation phase. Kesko and KNAPP have worked together previously, and the joint planning process reinforced the view that KNAPP’s solution is well aligned with the objectives set for the logistics centre. The single facility must be able to serve different customers and order types efficiently using the same technology platform.
Kesko values KNAPP’s broad technology portfolio, strong research and development capabilities, and the scalability of its solutions.
“KNAPP has a strong understanding of what customers need, as well as innovative solutions and insight into how those solutions will develop in the future,” Tala says. “A logistics centre is a multi-year project and a long-term investment, so it is important for us to choose a partner that can look ahead and understand our needs years from now.”
The solution being supplied by KNAPP combines automation with manual logistics processes. It uses the strengths of both operating models where they best support the needs of the business and customer service.
The system is designed to adapt to future changes and growing volumes. It includes automated pallet handling, high-bay storage solutions, shuttle-based storage and goods-to-person small-item picking. Together, these technologies create a flexible and scalable logistics platform that supports efficient order fulfilment, reliable deliveries and future growth.
“We are pleased to implement this project together with Kesko,” says Rudolf Hansl, Vice President, Food Retail Solutions at KNAPP. “The solution is designed to support future growth and creates the foundation for the continuous development of logistics operations. At the same time, this collaboration strengthens our presence in the Finnish market and marks an important step in further expanding our activities in the Nordic grocery retail sector.”
Detailed planning for the automation solution is beginning now, with installation scheduled to begin in 2028, and the logistics centre is expected to go live in phases during 2029–2030.
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