Overview
- The company has begun formal talks with Erfurt’s works council on an Interessenausgleich and Sozialplan, with management signaling financial support, possible transfer arrangements and relocation help, including roles at the growing Gießen site.
- Zalando frames the decision as part of integrating About You and slimming its Europe network to 14 logistics centers in seven countries, while allowing contracts for three externally operated sites abroad to lapse.
- Opened in 2012, the Erfurt facility is Zalando’s only owned logistics site of this scale in East Germany and has been a major local employer, drawing scrutiny over earlier public support for the location.
- Verdi accuses Zalando of keeping staff uninformed to protect the Christmas season and points to recent strikes, as national and regional politicians denounce the closure and a crisis meeting with state and city officials is set for Friday.
- Zalando highlights modernization plans, including a next‑generation center in Gießen expected to create about 1,700 jobs, and argues a leaner network will improve speed and reliability.