Itella has won a new logistics contract, opened a new regional logistics centre in southern Finlandand bought a Russian firm specialising in customer relationship marketing (CRM).
The postal group said it has been selected by Rautakesko, a Finnish retailer specialising inbuilding and home improvement products, as its international logistics partner. The agreementcovers warehousing, terminal operations and store deliveries.
Itella Logistics has provided warehousing services to Rautakesko in Finland since 2002. Thenew cooperation agreement extends the operations to Norway and Sweden, and subsequently toRautakesko’s other operating countries in the Baltics and Russia. Rautakesko’s current warehousingoperations in Langhus, Norway, will be transferred to Itella. In Sweden, K-rauta’s warehousingoperations will be transferred to the new extension of Itella’s service warehouse in Borås, whichwill be completed at the beginning of next year.
“Itella Logistics is one of the leading providers of logistics services in the Nordiccountries and Russia. We can provide Rautakesko with a cost-effective comprehensive solution forshared operating and information systems in all operating countries”, said Pekka Laitio, Directorof Itella Logistics.
Meanwhile, Itella Logistics will build a new 60,000 sqm warehouse for its fashion andinterior decoration logistics as well as its parcel sorting for the Lahti region (north ofHelsinki), in Pennala in the town of Orimattila.
The new property, increasing Itella’s storage space at the location to nearly 90,000 sqm,will be built adjacent to the existing premises of SHW Logistics Ltd, which is part of ItellaGroup. In addition, Itella’s parcel sorting terminal, which currently operates in Holma in Lahti,will be transferred to Pennala. The whole project is due to be finalised by the summer of 2010.
“This is a major investment in the Lahti economic region, which offers us both demand forlogistics services and excellent connections to various parts of Finland. In the future, we willoffer both fashion and interior decoration logistics services from under the same roof. This willenable us to further increase the efficiency of our operations and better meet the logistics needsof our customers,” said Jarmo Halonen, Country Manager of Itella Logistics Finland.
Separately, Itella Mail Communication has acquired the Russian company OOO Connexionsspecialised in consulting and campaign management services for customer relationship marketing(CRM) on a turnkey basis. Connexions’ clientele comprises global companies operating in Russia,such as Audi, Philip Morris, Microsoft, UNICEF and Novartis.
The company will assume the name OOO Itella Connexions and become part of the Itella MailCommunication business group. Founded in 1999, the company employs some 30 staff and has net salesof around €3 million. Connexions is the first international acquisition by Itella’s MailCommunication division.
