STOCKHOLM - Hygiene and health company Essity has ramped up its commitment to Latin America with the inauguration of a new automated distribution centre in Rionegro, Antioquia, Colombia.

 Equivalent to an 18-storey building, the new facility is said to be Latin America’s tallest automated self-supporting warehouse and will improves operational efficiency and sustainability while handling 45% of Essity’s sales in Colombia. It will also accelerate the dispatch processes by 33%.

The distribution centre integrates advanced automation technology, including state-of-the-art stacker cranes and an intelligent Warehouse Management System (WMS). Thanks to a more efficient electricity utilisation, its also avoids the emission of 97 tonnes of CO2 per year, corresponding to about 56% reduction compared to the previous building.

During construction, the project generated over 900 jobs, with 300 employees eventually joining the Rionegro team. The distribution centre will serve 1,470 delivery points across Colombia and support exports to 25 countries.

“This investment strengthens our capabilities and reinforces our presence in Colombia, enabling us to fulfil our service promise to customers while expanding our reach,” said Diego Loaiza, general manager for the Andean and Caribbean Region at Essity.

In August 2021, Essity acquired 95.8% of Grupo Familia and to conclude a 40-year joint venture, the company has now re-branded Grupo Familia to Essity.

With over SEK 5.2 billion net sales in 2024, Colombia is Essity’s second largest market in Latin America.