“Allianz Wasserstraße” to Strengthen Inland Shipping
Jun 16, 2026 at 12:06 PM
Approximately 40 kilometers east of Lyon, TGW Logistics has implemented a highly automated FlashPick system for INTERSPORT France. The new fulfillment center in Saint-Vulbas recently became operational and met the agreed performance parameters within the specified timeframe. The project’s goal was to support INTERSPORT’s growth, manage seasonal demand peaks, and improve ergonomics for employees. The new solution enables prompt delivery to stores and contributes to a high service level while facilitating shelf stocking. Following a successful project in Austria, INTERSPORT and TGW Logistics continue their collaboration with this second distribution center in France.
INTERSPORT France operates 980 stores and employs over 19,000 staff members. In 2025, the company achieved a revenue of 3.91 billion euros. The cooperative is headquartered in Longjumeau and operates three logistics hubs with a total area of 160,000 m² in Saint-Vulbas, Autrèche, and Machecoul. Additionally, INTERSPORT owns the lifestyle brand Blackstore and the „Manufacture Française du Cycle,“ the first French bicycle assembly factory. Gérard Leclerc leads the management for France, Belgium, Spain, and Portugal.
Efficient Logistics Solution for Growing Demands
Due to continuous growth, INTERSPORT sought a flexible and efficient solution to ensure fast and reliable delivery to stores. The company opted for the intelligent goods-to-person system FlashPick. Potential expansion opportunities were considered during the design phase to allow maximum flexibility in response to changing purchasing behavior or adjustments to the omnichannel strategy. In the goods receiving area, robots automatically assemble pallets for storage. The centerpiece of the logistics center is a ten-aisle shuttle warehouse with more than 80,000 storage locations, complemented by 18 PickCenter picking workstations that enable ergonomic order processing. In the shipping area, a three-aisle shuttle first consolidates the orders before three AutoStax robots assemble the pallets – with a capacity of up to 1,500 cartons per hour.
Successful Collaboration and Increased Productivity
„We were able to convince INTERSPORT France with our experience in implementing large projects as well as our references in the fashion and sporting goods sectors,“ explains Patrick Teissier, Director Sales at TGW France. Frédéric Grassart, Logistics Director of INTERSPORT France, emphasizes: „What was particularly important to me in choosing TGW Logistics as the system integrator was the commitment to ensure the agreed performance even before the official go-live. After 20 weeks, we have already exceeded our goals: The productivity of order preparation has increased eightfold, and that of palletizing has quadrupled.“
