Studenac Opens New Logistics and Distribution Center in VGP Park Split, Dugopolje

Dugopolje, 17 March 2026 – Studenac, the retail chain with the largest number of stores in Croatia, has officially opened its new logistics and distribution centre in Dugopolje. Located within the VGP Park Split complex, the 23,000-square-metre facility represents an important addition to the company’s distribution network. Studenac has invested more than €4.5 million in the equipment and systems of the new centre, which will employ 260 people responsible for ensuring the efficient supply of the company’s store network across Dalmatia.

Alongside Studenac’s management team and employees, the event was attended by Natalija Porobija, Head of the Department for Economy, EU Funds and Agriculture of Split-Dalmatia County, Perica Bosančić, Mayor of Dugopolje, as well as numerous partners and guests, including more than one hundred representatives of leading domestic FMCG companies.

“We are proud that Studenac has been growing in our county for 35 years, and the opening of this modern centre is the culmination of that long-term development. Investments like this are significant for the development of the local economy as they bring new jobs and technological progress to the entire region,” said Natalija Porobija on the occasion.

The long-standing cooperation between Dugopolje and Studenac was also highlighted by the Mayor of Dugopolje, Perica Bosančić:

“Our cooperation with Studenac began with the construction of their first warehouse back in 2006, and we are extremely pleased that they have once again chosen Dugopolje as the location for their new logistics and distribution centre. This project confirms Dugopolje as a logistics hub of Dalmatia and demonstrates that stable partnerships are the foundation of economic growth.”

“Our warehouses have been located in Dugopolje for the past 20 years, while our stores operate throughout the county. We employ more than 1,600 people here and, according to the latest published analyses, we have the highest revenues among companies headquartered in Split-Dalmatia County. The opening of this modern facility is one of the ways we continue to develop our processes and services to provide our customers with an even better in-store experience,” said Michal Senczuk, CEO of Studenac, in his opening remarks.

“Our store format is based on fast and convenient everyday shopping, which makes it essential to have the right assortment in the right place at the right time. In our commercial operations today, we are focused on store segmentation, assortment optimization, more attractive promotions, greater customer benefits and investments in more competitive prices.

Our two new facilities – the LDC in Zagreb and the LDC in Dugopolje, where we are today – will support us in these efforts,” emphasized Ivan Slavica, Member of the Management Board and Chief Operating Officer for Commercial Affairs at Studenac.

Studenac’s new logistics and distribution centre is located within the VGP Park Split complex, which covers an area of 187,000 square metres. The project was developed by VGP, a pan-European investor and manager of high-quality logistics and industrial real estate.

“We are very pleased that VGP Park Split has become the new logistics home of Studenac as of today. We are delighted that Studenac has recognised the quality and strategic location of this project, which has been tailored to their operational needs. This is our second major investment in Croatia after Zagreb, and we are excited to be building the future of premium logistics real estate here. Congratulations to the entire team on the successful completion,” said Jan Van Geet, CEO of VGP.

This opening takes place in the year when Studenac proudly celebrates 35 years of operations. To mark the occasion, a special exhibition presenting the history of Studenac’s logistics was unveiled during the opening ceremony, guiding visitors through the company’s logistics development from the early 1990s to today’s modern system.

“The development of Studenac’s logistics began in the 1990s in a warehouse of just over 300 square metres in Duće. At that time, we had only two stores, supplied by two vans and one truck. Dugopolje became part of our story in 2006, when construction of our first large warehouse began here. Today we are still in Dugopolje, but this time in a modern logistics and distribution centre in which we have invested more than €4.5 million in equipment and systems. In a few weeks, deliveries from this location will begin to almost 700 of our stores across Dalmatia,” said Tomislav Štos, Director of Supply Chain Management, before taking guests on a guided tour of the warehouse facilities.

During the tour, guests had the opportunity to see modern logistics solutions and systems and walk between the new 12-metre-high storage racks. The new facility brings numerous advantages compared to the existing infrastructure, including larger storage capacity and optimized space organization adapted to ambient, chilled and frozen sections. The most advanced systems have also been implemented – Warehouse Management System (WMS) and Transportation Management System (TMS) – enabling efficient warehouse operations and full tracking of all stages of the supply chain.

Special attention has been given to sustainability. The centre includes a solar power plant that will reduce the carbon footprint and increase energy efficiency, with the goal of achieving BREEAM Excellent certification and compliance with EU taxonomy standards. The new infrastructure ensures the implementation of efficient warehouse processes and provides the foundation for future automation of warehouse operations.

Studenac implemented this project in cooperation with the consulting firm Graphene Partners.

Studenac remains focused on continuous investment in logistics and technological advancement, as confirmed by the opening of nearly 60,000 square metres of warehouse space in two modern logistics and distribution centres, located near Croatia’s two largest cities, within a period of just five months. The realization of these key infrastructure projects enables the further centralization of deliveries to the largest retail network in Croatia.