Panattoni Partner Marek Dobrzycki explains how the firm has grown in Poland, why its scale is an asset for German businesses, and how ESG, nearshoring and data centres can lift the country’s role as a major EU investment hub.
Q: Panattoni entered Poland in 2005. How has the company evolved since then?
We started here in Poland in 2005 as a kind of startup – a very small company, with only a few people on the ground. The market itself was small and emerging, but the economy was growing, and we took advantage of that. Over roughly the last ten years we have become the market leader, holding over 50% of all new industrial space delivered in Poland in any given year.
Our outlook for the Polish market remains very promising. Poland is still developing significantly, and our industrial sector is doing the same.
We are now probably the second-largest industrial market in Europe, behind Germany – and our proximity to Germany is certainly part of that story. Our long-term perspective is stable and positive, and we still see substantial potential. The market is growing strongly but remains underdeveloped, so there is plenty of room ahead.
Q: Panattoni operates 70 offices in multiple countries. How do you manage scale?
Panattoni is a privately owned company – we are not listed. That means we are recognised as a very flexible and fast-reacting partner, because our decision-making process is rapid. We can respond quickly to market changes in a way that listed competitors often cannot, and that is a significant competitive advantage.
Across Europe, the model works because we always have strong teams on the ground with genuine local expertise. At the same time, we maintain central standards for ESG, marketing, IT and branding. The combination is local strength paired with consistent group-wide standards. That structure is how we manage at scale without losing agility.
Q: What are the competitive advantages that differentiate Panattoni?
We are truly client orientated. We follow clients across countries, build supply-chain strategies together with them and adapt to their needs.
We also cover the full spectrum of transaction types – build-to-own, build-to-suit, data centres, advanced production facilities, standard logistics facilities, small and large formats.
Beyond that, we are not a transactional developer. We offer a platform: asset management, leasing management, property management, project management. When we sell buildings to investors, we often remain as asset manager to ensure the assets continue to perform. That long-term partnership orientation is what sets us apart.
Q: What specifically can Panattoni offer to German companies?
Germany is a natural anchor for us. We already work with major German companies – BSH and the EGO Group are two well-known examples, but there are many more. What we offer those companies is a combination of factors that is very hard to replicate elsewhere in Europe.
First, speed. We can deliver a facility in under 12 months – compared with approximately two years in Western European markets. The permitting process in Poland is clear and straightforward. Second, proximity. The distance between western Poland and Munich, Stuttgart or Hamburg is close enough for next-day delivery. That is not a marginal logistical advantage – it is a structural one. Third, infrastructure. Poland has invested heavily in roads, rail and connectivity, and the results are visible.
For investors rather than occupiers, Poland currently offers returns that are higher than in Western Europe, with a political and macroeconomic environment that has remained stable – including during recent geopolitical pressures on our eastern border. Add a highly educated, ambitious and hardworking workforce, and the case is compelling. Companies that invest here find the talent they need.
Q: How does Panattoni approach ESG?
ESG is not an option for us – it is a standard. We have made BREEAM Excellent the standard for our new developments, and we were the first developers in Poland to commit to this level across the entire portfolio. In doing so, we effectively set the standard for the wider developer market here.
The rationale is straightforward. Our clients require it, our financing partners require it, our investors require it. Beyond compliance, ESG certification directly supports asset liquidity – certified buildings perform better and retain value more reliably. That is a tangible financial benefit, separate from the environmental case. The two reinforce each other, and we see no scenario in which this changes direction.
Q: Where do you see growth opportunities in the next five years?
We expect meaningfully higher volumes over the next five years. Two areas stand out. The first is data centres – demand is accelerating and we are making this a significant focus. We are building the right capabilities and teams for this strategic direction.
The second is build-to-suit projects linked to nearshoring. We are seeing that trend clearly – not only from Germany but from companies in China, Taiwan and other parts of Asia that are looking to establish a manufacturing or logistics presence in Europe. Poland is well placed to capture a substantial share of that activity, and Panattoni is well placed within Poland to lead it.
Q: Why does Poland deserve attention as an investment hub?
Poland is a success story that has not yet been fully recognised internationally. The economy is one of the fastest growing in Europe. Infrastructure has been transformed. The workforce is educated, motivated and has a genuine ‘yes we can’ attitude that translates directly into business performance.
Poland is also a pro-European country with a government committed to that direction, which provides a degree of certainty that matters for long-term investment decisions. Some analysts and economists who track Central Europe closely – including those affiliated with institutions like the World Bank – project Poland becoming the third-largest economy in Europe in the coming years. That trajectory is real, and it is backed by fundamentals.
