The company Lebkuchen-Schmidt GmbH & Co. KG is starting a groundbreaking major project with the automation specialist Swisslog: A new, fully automated distribution center is being built in Nuremberg-Langwasser, which will centralize all logistics processes of the traditional company in the future. The logistics services of Lebkuchen Schmidt include, for example, the delivery of full pallets to the own stores or worldwide parcel shipping.
The investment volume amounts to around 60 million euros, marking the largest single project in the almost hundred-year history of the manufacturer of Nuremberg gingerbread and fine pastries.
Automation with High-Bay Warehouse and AutoStore
The new logistics center is set to replace the six previous external warehouses and offer space for around 30,000 pallets on an area of 20,000 square meters. The building reaches a height of 34 meters to use the available space efficiently. Commissioning is planned for the first quarter of 2027.
The core of the project is a highly automated solution
from Swisslog. It includes, among other things, a pallet high-bay warehouse with 24,000 pallet spaces and Vectura stacker cranes, ProMove and QuickMove conveyor systems, an AutoStore system with around 17,000 bins, and workstations for processing individual customer requests.
Flexible Logistics for Strong Seasonal Business
With the new facility, Lebkuchen-Schmidt is responding to the strongly seasonally influenced demands of its business model: A large part of the annual turnover is achieved within a few months. The new infrastructure is intended to ensure stable and flexible processes in all sales channels during this time – from store delivery to worldwide shipping. At the same time, the project enables a reduction in personnel needs during peak times and shorter delivery times.
"We are thrilled to have won Swisslog as a partner for this significant project. Their profound expertise and innovative solutions are exactly what we need to solve our logistical challenges. The new distribution center will not only modernize our current
operations but also support our growth ambitions for the coming years. We are eager to see the positive impact of this collaboration on our business," says Kirill Heidt, Head of Logistics at Lebkuchen-Schmidt GmbH & Co.KG.
Markus Kirchhoff, SVP Sales & Accounts EMEA of Swisslog GmbH adds: "Our modern technologies and tailored solutions are designed to produce efficient operations. For Schmidt, this is especially important for their seasonal peak times. We are confident that the new distribution center will meet the company's diverse logistical needs and ensure its continued success."
The energy supply of the new center will be covered by a powerful photovoltaic system with an annual capacity of up to 900,000 kilowatt-hours. In addition, the new structure reduces CO₂ emissions: By dissolving the external warehouses and consolidating all goods flows in one place, around 130,000 truck kilometers are eliminated annually, saving approximately 65,000 kilograms of CO₂. The vacant spaces at the headquarters also open up new
possibilities for expanding production.
Groundbreaking Ceremony with Markus Söder and Nuremberg's Mayor Marcus König
The ceremonial groundbreaking took place on June 25, 2025, in the presence of prominent guests from politics, business, and society, including Bavaria's Prime Minister Markus Söder and Nuremberg's Mayor Marcus König. Managing Director Dr. Jürgen Brandstetter emphasized in his speech the importance of the project for the future viability of the company and stressed the responsibility towards the environment, employees, and the region.
Swisslog brings its decades of experience in developing automated logistics solutions. The company, part of the KUKA Group, is supplying both the technical equipment and the warehouse management system SynQ for the project. The partnership with Swisslog is a central step in sustainably addressing the challenges of digitalization and e-commerce, according to Lebkuchen-Schmidt.
With the construction project, the company is not only preparing for further growth but also aims to secure competitiveness at the traditional Nuremberg production site for future generations.
