CEVA Logistics and KIKO Milano have been named Logistics Operator of the Year 2025 by Assologistica in the “Technological Innovation” category, in recognition of a new automated system implemented at CEVA’s Pognano (BG) site to manage KIKO Milano’s European retail operations. The award highlights the ongoing evolution of their partnership, which began in 2011 and was previously recognized in 2021.

The Pognano hub, central to KIKO Milano’s global network, now supports retail, e-commerce, franchising, and wholesale channels through a single integrated infrastructure. The newly launched automation system doubles operational capacity to handle up to 1 million pieces per day, with 70% of volumes processed via the new sorter. The fully automated workflow—covering box creation, sorting, packing, closure, and palletization—has improved service continuity, picking quality, and operational efficiency.

“This award recognizes a project that represents the natural evolution of our vision of intelligent, collaborative and sustainable logistics. Together with KIKO Milano, we have built a model that integrates technology, people and processes to ensure continuity, quality and adaptability in a rapidly growing market,” said Claudio Boschetti, Managing Director Contract Logistics, Italy, CEVA Logistics.

“This automation project marks an important milestone in KIKO’s growth path and represents much more than a simple technological upgrade: it is a strategic investment aimed at making our supply chain increasingly dynamic, sustainable and competitive. It was strongly desired and carefully designed together with CEVA, and has enabled us to increase the fulfillment capacity for the Retail channel, improve service levels and better absorb even significant fluctuations in demand typical of our market, while at the same time improving working conditions for operators. The completion of the project strengthens KIKO’s market position and prepares the company to face future challenges with a modern, efficient and innovation-driven supply chain,” said Matteo Ghidoli, Chief Operations Officer, KIKO Milano.

The system also delivers sustainability benefits, optimizing box filling to reduce CO₂ emissions and eliminating plastic filler materials. CEVA Logistics and KIKO Milano’s partnership, renewed in 2024 for another five years, now manages inbound and storage operations, multi-channel order preparation, value-added services, and more than 4,200 SKUs, handling approximately 180 million pieces annually.

The award underscores both companies’ commitment to innovative, scalable, and sustainable logistics solutions, reinforcing their positions as leaders in beauty retail logistics.