GLS has continued its expansion in northern Italy with the acquisition of its depot in Modena froma franchisee.
The takeover, which is the latest in a series of depot acquisitions, means that GLS nowoperates 35 depots in Italy itself while the remaining 99 of the 134 depots are run by franchisees.Modena, north-east of Bologna, is the eighth depot in Emilia-Romagna, the centre of Italy’sautomotive production sector, which the parcels operator has taken over.
“As an express services company we distribute the goods in this pulsating region,” saidKlaus Schädle, managing director of GLS Italy. “We focus on the quality of our services and that’swhy we have taken over the experienced staff in the depot.”
GLS stressed that its acquisitions represented a positive signal in the midst of the Italianeconomic crisis. The company generally takes over not only the depot operations but also the localmanagement and the staff. Last year GLS bought its Turin South depot from the local franchisee,giving it operational control of the two Turin depots.
“GLS is still growing in Italy without being held back by the current situation in thecountry. We are investing sustainably in depots, IT and staff,” Schädle said. “Just last August weput a new hub in Milan with expanded capacity and modern sorting equipment into operation.” The12,000 sqm hub has extra sorting capacity for domestic and international shipments.
