AB Vassilopoulos: New distribution infrastructure to support its franchise network

AB Vassilopoulos has opened a new storage and distribution centre in Elefsina, Greece, adding to the infrastructure supporting its store network. The news is particularly relevant to the Greek franchise sector, coming after the addition of 46 new franchise stores in 2025. This time, the focus is not just on the chain’s expanding presence, but also on the infrastructure that supports the movement of goods to its stores.

What the new Elefsina centre includes

According to reports published on 28 September 2026 by Newsbeast, Imerisia and Mononews, the new facility forms part of AB’s efforts to strengthen its supply chain. Newsbeast puts the investment in the Elefsina facility at approximately €3 million.

Imerisia reports a total floor area of 35,500 square metres and 35 loading bays. The centre is designed to serve the company’s network across Greece, with a particular focus on southern Greece. It handles around 6,000 non-food product lines and has an annual capacity of more than 24 million cases.

The operation involves 160 employees and external partners. These figures indicate the scale of the facility, rather than its actual annual throughput or the proportion of capacity currently being used.

This distinction matters: the stated capacity reflects what the infrastructure can handle, not recorded deliveries to stores. Similarly, the approximately 6,000 product lines are non-food items and should not be taken to represent AB’s entire product range.

Logistics technology and the next step in 2027

The new facility incorporates voice-directed order picking, multi-store picking and high-density storage for full pallets. According to Imerisia, these technologies are part of plans to move goods more quickly and accurately.

For the franchise sector, the investment’s relevance lies in the link between central logistics management and day-to-day store replenishment. However, the available reports provide no comparative figures for delivery times, cost per order or replenishment frequency before and after the centre opened. A specific, measurable benefit for each franchise store has therefore yet to be demonstrated.

The next step is scheduled for 2027: plans include a 1,000-square-metre refrigerated cross-docking area and 11 additional loading bays. This is a planned expansion, not a set of facilities presented as already completed. Distinguishing between current operations and future plans is essential when assessing the investment.

The link with 46 new franchise stores

The strengthening of the logistics infrastructure follows a year of network expansion. In 2025, AB added two company-owned stores and 46 franchise stores, according to all three sources. The reported additions for that year therefore total 48 outlets.

This figure refers to store additions and does not, on its own, establish the net change in the network: the available extracts contain no information on any departures or closures. Nor is there a regional breakdown of the new outlets.

As Newsbeast reports, the emphasis on franchising is linked to a strategy of being closer to consumers and developing smaller, more flexible outlets. This approach responds to the trend towards quicker, more convenient everyday shopping. The new centre adds logistics support to this picture of growth, although the sources do not specify separate service arrangements for franchise stores.

The investment behind the growth

AB ended 2025 with turnover of approximately €2 billion and total investment of €52 million. According to the reports, its investment programme focused on infrastructure, new technologies, green development and network expansion. These financial figures relate to the company as a whole, not solely to its franchise operations.

For an existing or prospective franchisee, the news offers a concrete starting point for assessment: stronger infrastructure behind the network. It does not, however, replace the need for information about the actual supply arrangements for a particular store.

Practical takeaway: Before committing to a franchise partnership, ask for specific information about delivery schedules, product availability and the handling of shortages in your area. The new infrastructure is one factor to assess; day-to-day service levels need to be verified separately.