Last-mile logistics refers to the final leg of the supply chain in which goods move from a distribution facility to their ultimate destination, typically a consumer's home or a retail storefront. This segment of industrial real estate has grown rapidly alongside e-commerce, since fast, reliable delivery increasingly depends on warehouse space located close to dense population centers rather than farther-out regional distribution hubs. Last-mile facilities tend to be smaller and more infill-oriented than traditional bulk distribution centers, prioritizing proximity and access to major roadways over sheer size, and they often command premium rents per square foot as a result of their scarce, well-located sites. Demand for last-mile space has been further shaped by shifts in domestic supply chain strategy, as companies rethink how and where inventory is stored to shorten delivery times and reduce transportation costs. For investors, last-mile industrial assets offer exposure to structural e-commerce growth combined with the scarcity value of well-located urban and suburban infill sites.
Further reading: How Reshoring is Rewriting the Industrial Landscape
Watch: Investing in Industrial Assets with Lightstone DIRECT
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