Amsterdam bans fast-delivery grocery hubs from residential areas

Amsterdam’s city council has recently made a decision to prohibit fast-delivery grocery companies from establishing dark stores in residential areas. This measure is in response to public complaints about noise and disturbances caused by such operations.

Dark stores, which are compact distribution centres utilised by emerging fast grocery services like Gorillas and Getir, will now be limited to business parks or, in exceptional circumstances, mixed residential-work areas. This regulation ensures that these facilities are situated away from purely residential areas, with the aim of balancing the needs of the services and minimising disruption for residents.

Reinier van Dantzig, the municipal executive in charge of spatial planning for the city, stated that the new policy would improve the living environment for residents of Amsterdam. By restricting dark stores in residential areas, the aim is to address the increase in delivery drivers and alleviate the associated issues they bring to residential neighbourhoods.

Turkey’s Getir, which acquired its German competitor Gorillas in a $1.2 billion agreement last year, expressed its dissatisfaction with the ruling, according to Dutch news agency ANP.

Getir criticised the zoning plan, stating that it discriminates against their industry compared to other delivery services. Reuters was unable to obtain an immediate comment from Getir.