Oxylane, the parent company of Décathlon, plans to open a big new distribution center in the autumn of 2013 at Rouvignies, near Valenciennes and the French border with Belgium, to service its stores in Northern Europe. The new logistic platform will start on a surface of 57,000 square meters, building up gradually to 75,000 m². Oxylane chose the location over other proposals in Belgium and elsewhere because of several factors, including its proximity to a river. One of its objectives is to transport at least half of its merchandise by waterways, reducing CO² emissions by 75 percent. Another reason for the choice was the support of local authorities, which are investing a total of €1,840,000 in the €35 million project on condition that it will create 250 jobs in the region, where the unemployment rate stands at 14.5 percent. The Oxylane group already has 1,085,000 m² of warehouse space in place at several locations to supply its stores around the world, which carry no stock. Two other big continental logistic platforms are located near its head office in France and near Barcelona.

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