The second part of the panel consisted of a discussion among Renata Torres, VP Dark Stores at iFood, who acted as the moderator, André Gavazza, SVP Development at GLP, Alexandre Felix, COO of Loggi, and Giancarlo Nicastro himself.

A standout point in the Q&A session revolved around adopting a new perspective on logistics. Andre Gavazza stated that previously, "only the square meter was considered, landlords and e-commerce players looked at the rental cost, [...] but they didn't really view the cost as a whole, which encompasses real estate costs, rent, maintenance, and property tax, added to operational costs, labor, workforce, and ISS costs. This aspect was rarely examined, but nowadays it's being given more consideration. [...] When the cost of real estate itself is analyzed, we're talking about only 5% of the operation's costs."

The COO of Loggi discussed the challenges of the last mile and supplying major urban centers. He explained that the consumer profile in large metropolises like São Paulo results in a unique dynamic, requiring an infrastructure adapted to these demands.

"More and more, people are buying smaller quantities, but the assortment is large. What does this mean? Looking toward the near future, what happens to the city's mobility? It's not just about people commuting to and from work, it's also about the movement of goods. This concept is already in place in other countries, it hasn't reached here yet, but it will soon."

Developing Regions Beyond the Southeast

The concentration of industrial properties the Southeast region was a point raised and discussed during the presentation. Market Analytics data reveals that 76.66% of these assets are in the Southeast, totaling over 18 million square meters in the region, compared to 2.3 million square meters in the Northeast and 2.3 million square meters in the South.

Despite the gap between these hubs, Giancarlo Nicastro asserts that other parts of Brazil present investment opportunities. "When we talk about the northern region, we're essentially talking about the Manaus Free Zone, a region that encompasses 400,000 square meters. There's potential, but the condition of the roads is terrible, railways still aren't functional, and waterways are limited. However, because it's a small market, I see an opportunity there."

"What's intriguing is the development in the Northeast. [The average asking price per square meter] went from R$ 16.60 to R$ 27.10, but why? Because available stock was reduced. So, if you asked me where I'd build a warehouse today, I'd say 'far from the Southeast'. That's where prices are increasing, demand is dropping, and opportunities are arising", he concludes.