It is an economic gem our country can be proud of: the distribution centre of the world-famous sports brand Nike, located in Laakdal, Ham and Meerhout. The Nike European Logistics Campus (ELC) employs between five and eight thousand people from the wider region covering the provinces of Antwerp and Limburg. MR President Georges-Louis Bouchez visited the site and was thoroughly impressed.
Who doesn't know Nike? In the 1990s, almost every athlete was dressed in the outfits of basketball player Michael Jordan, tennis player Andre Agassi or athlete Carl Lewis. The Air Max remains a legendary sports shoe today, and the brand is still hugely popular among young and old, and top athletes alike. Footballers Romelu Lukaku, Kevin De Bruyne and athlete Nafi Thiam are also sponsored by Nike.
The ELC was founded in 1994 on the banks of the Albert Canal. It steadily grew into Nike's distribution centre for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. With an area of 465,000 square metres, it is as big as 45 times the football pitch of Racing Genk. Do you order a package of Nike shoes, clothing or equipment online? It leaves this logistics centre within just a few hours. It also supplies sports shops.
In total, Nike has already invested two billion euros in Belgium. The American sports brand chose our country more than 30 years ago thanks to our know-how and reputation in distribution and logistics, but also because of the proximity of the ports of Antwerp and Rotterdam. 99% of incoming containers reach the ELC directly by waterway. Less than 1% arrive by air. To give you an idea of the scale: every year, 45,000 containers are received. That's 450 million sports items, of which 150,000 leave the site every day for buyers and shops.
MR support
Georges-Louis Bouchez was shown around by general director Kurt Van Donink. Van Donink started almost at the bottom of the ladder three decades ago, worked his way through various departments of the company and now leads the ELC. Together they discussed the future of distribution and e-commerce in Belgium.
The sector can continue to rely on the MR's support. This is reflected in the reforms that French-speaking liberals are implementing with the federal government for a stronger and more flexible labour market: annualisation of working hours, more night work, tax-advantaged overtime where gross becomes net, expansion of flexi-jobs and student work (up to 650 hours per year).
Bouchez received an original souvenir from his working visit to Antwerp and Limburg: a personalised jersey of his beloved football club KRC Genk. With the number 10 of the playmaker. You can guess which brand.