Gebrüder Weiss acquires Ipsen Logistics’ Air & Sea business

Gebrüder Weiss is clearly set on implementing its global logistics strategy as well as establishing itself as in eCommerce logistics market leader in Austria. In the last week alone, it
has opened a huge “Home Delivery” warehouse in Vienna, Austria, and, on 29JUL20, announced its acquisition of Ipsen Logistics’ Air & Sea business, following the signing of the contract over
in Bremen, Germany.

Bremen (from left): HC Specht & E Dubbers-Albrecht (MDs Ipsen Logistics), L Thoma (MD Air & Sea, Gebrüder Weiss) & W Senger-Weiss (CEO Gebrüder Weiss). Image: Ipsen Logistics / Bettina Conradi
Bremen (from left): HC Specht & E Dubbers-Albrecht (MDs Ipsen Logistics), L Thoma (MD Air & Sea, Gebrüder Weiss) & W Senger-Weiss (CEO Gebrüder Weiss). Image: Ipsen Logistics / Bettina Conradi

The purchase price remains a secret, but as of 29JUL20, Gebrüder Weiss now owns large parts of Ipsen Logistics’ Air & Sea business in Germany, Belgium, Poland, and Malaysia. Not affected by
the acquisition, are Ipsen Industrial Packing in Bremen, and Ipsen’s national companies in Morocco and Algeria. The North African companies will remain as cooperation partners in the Gebrüder
Weiss network.

Pending the approval of the antitrust authorities and the necessary approval procedures, Wolfram Senger-Weiss, Gebrüder Weiss CEO, commented: “The planned acquisition is an important step in
the development of our Air & Sea division. Gebrüder Weiss and Ipsen Logistics are a good match, not only geographically but also in terms of their understanding of service and culture. Based
on this stronger global network, we are now able to offer both Ipsen’s customers and our future employees new development opportunities.”

Growth across the globe 
“Gebrüder Weiss’ national companies in Europe, Asia, America, and Oceania are ideal contact points for the customers of Ipsen Logistics who will now be able to enjoy global logistics
solutions from a single source,”
Lothar Thoma, Managing Director of Air & Sea at Gebrüder Weiss explained. Ipsen’s Air & Sea division numbers 500 staff, of which 180 are located at
eight locations in Germany. Ipsen Logistics GmbH’s two Managing Directors, Eduard Dubbers-Albrecht and Hans-Christian Specht, are happy with the take-over since “we provide our employees with
the opportunity to take advantage of a new prospect and are pleased to have found in Gebrüder Weiss a buyer that will safeguard the continued existence of the company and preserve
jobs.”

The latest takeover concludes Gebrüder Weiss’ Air & Sea growth strategy for now, and follows on from recent Air & Sea network expansions in South Korea, New Zealand, and Australia, Lothar
Thoma confirmed: “Expanding our network in Germany and entering the market in Malaysia means that our growth plans have been completed for the time being. We now cover the most important
logistics markets worldwide through our own companies – or through well-coordinated partnerships. We would now like to integrate and further strengthen this setup.”

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GW’s new 5,000 m² Home Delivery handling facility division in Maria Lanzendorf. Image: GW / Andreas Ursprunger
GW’s new 5,000 m² Home Delivery handling facility division in Maria Lanzendorf. Image: GW / Andreas Ursprunger

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eCommerce rise leads to 5,000 m² handling facility add-on near Vienna, Austria
As in many other countries, the corona lock-down led to people going online to purchase consumer items. Especially electronics, household goods, fashion and furniture saw an increase. Over at
Gebrüder Weiss, according to its press release “The number of consignments shipped to end consumers, comprising furniture as well as TV sets, washing machines, etc., by Gebrüder Weiss in the
first half of 2020 rose from around 410,000 to 580,000;”
a 40% increase in its Middle and Eastern European Home Delivery business in the first six months of 2020 compared to the same period
in 2019. In Austria alone, “Gebrüder Weiss’ Home Delivery segment rose from 173,000 in the first half of 2019 to 235,000 in the first six months of 2020. Vienna, which is responsible for
around a quarter of Austria’s total economic output alone, is also the number one when it comes to this business.”

Reason enough to invest 6.8 million euros in the construction of a new, 5,000 m² logistics facility at its Maria Lanzendorf location, just outside Vienna. Karl Meiringer, Gebrüder Weiss Branch
Manager Maria Lanzendorf stated: “In mid-July we put the transshipment warehouse for the Home Delivery division into operation. In Maria Lanzendorf we handle around 40 percent of the total
Austrian volume of shipments delivered to end customers.”

Gebrüder Weiss plans eCommerce activity expansion in other markets
“Measuring 2020 by normal standards is naturally still difficult to do. However, the increase in eCommerce consignments shipped to our customers, is one which we have boldly followed with our
services in the Home Delivery segment,”
said Jürgen Bauer, Member of the Management Board at Gebrüder Weiss, in response to the recent growth spurt in eCommerce, and went on to praise staff
for their commitment under the difficult lockdown circumstances. “In addition, the extraordinary commitment of our employees has enabled us to maintain the high service quality in end
customer delivery even during the lockdown phase.”

The company has seen an increase in its Middle and Eastern European markets, too, with almost 110,000 additional consignments being shipped to end customers in the Croatian, Czech, Hungarian,
Slovakian, Romanian, and Serbian markets in the first half of 2020 compared to last year’s JAN-JUN result. Hungary experienced a staggering 75% increase in shipments, bringing it to a
record-breaking, six-digit 100,000 consignments, whilst Croatia grew 47% to 85,000 shipments. Gebrüder Weiss’ press release confirms that it “now intends to build on this success by expanding
its activities in Eastern Europe, eyeing the possibility of accessing new markets in other countries.”

Brigitte Gledhill

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Source: Cargoforwarder

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