Unilever Teams With ProLogis In Poland

British-Dutch consumer products company Unilever Group is consolidating its Central European operations and has teamed with ProLogis to help make that happen. Aurora, Colo.-based ProLogis, a distribution facilities and services provider, has signed a built-to-suit agreement with Unilever for a centralized distribution center in ProLogis Park Piotrkow, located about 80 miles south of Warsaw. The 442,149-square-foot facility will be constructed in two phases. The first phase is expected to be completed in December 2003, with the second phase fully operational in April 2004. With this agreement, Unilever is expanding an existing relationship with ProLogis. The manufacturer already leases more than 5.3 million square feet of logistics space in five states. "Unilever needed a way to centralize Central European operations and, in turn, improve and consolidate its logistics operations to realize increased efficiency and savings in facility costs," said Martin Whitcombe, logistics manager for Unilever Polska SA". . . it was a natural extension of our relationship to work with the company in Poland."