Hermes Logistics Group has acquired a stake in Italian parcels and logistics company Swiss PostPorta a Porta, having taken over 30% of the share capital from majority shareholder Swiss Post
International (SPI) to further expand its international presence and strengthen its position asEurope’s key logistics service provider in delivery to private households.In return, SPI which does not wish to invest in domestic networks, is able to focus on thecross-border letter market, and will also become the preferred sales partner of HLG forinternational B2C services in European markets.
With a central hub in Milan and 63 depots throughout the country run bysub-contractors, one of Porta a Porta’s specialist areas is the nationwide distribution of items toboth business and private customers. In 2006, the company delivered some 3.5 items to privatecustomers, giving it a 7% share of the market. “No other private service provider in Italy has sucha well-established B2C network as Porta a Porta,” says Jean-Pierre Streich Head of Swiss PostInternational.
The company also already has a good portfolio of business customers with whom it hasestablished long-term partnerships, such as Vorwerk, universal mail order company Bon Prix, and TVshopping channel Media Shopping.
All partners benefit from this cooperation: HLG brings to the partnership its tried andtested knowledge of building up standardized B2C networks, while Porta a Porta has specificknowledge of the Italian market. HLG would also consider similar partnerships in other countries ifthe right partners were found.
HLG has successfully offered parcel services on the Austrian market since July 2007, andthanks to close cooperation with affiliated companies Parcelnet in the United Kingdom and MondialRelay in France, it also has access to first-rate logistics infrastructures in these two countries.
“There is an enormous demand for high-quality B2C delivery services in Italy, which offers usexcellent growth opportunities. Moreover, Swiss Post Porta a Porta is already Italy’s qualityprovider on the parcels market, the perfect prerequisite for us to expand its existing market shareand to welcome more and more customers by becoming the logical alternative to Poste Italiane,” saysHanjo Schneider, Chairman of the Board of Management at Hermes Logistics Group.
