Bol.com acquires bicycle courier Cycloon

Bol.com, the largest online store in the Netherlands and Belgium, is to acquire Dutch bicycle courier company Cycloon. With the takeover the online store wants to deliver more sustainably. Moreover, Bol.com will deliver its own parcels for the first time.

Parent company of Bol.com Ahold Delhaize announced the takeover today. The acquisition aims for more sustainable delivery for the ecommerce-giant, as well as accelerated growth for Cycloon. The Dutch delivery company is known for its network of hundreds of bicycle couriers that deliver in over 60 cities across the Netherlands.

Takeover planned for first half 2022

The price of the takeover by Ahold Delhaize is not disclosed. It is expected that Bol.com will have a majority stake in the first half of 2022. The current management and shareholders of Cycloon will stay on, according to the press release. The ecommerce-platform intends to take over the remaining shares in four years time.

Inhouse delivery for the first time

The bicycle courier service will deliver parcels from Bol.com itself, as well as orders from partners that use Bol.com’s fulfillment service. With the couriers of Cycloon, Bol.com will be delivering their own parcels for the first time. Currently this is outsourced to carriers like PostNL. Their biggest competitor Coolblue, the second largest online store in the Netherlands, already has their own bicycle deliverers.

Bol.com will deliver their own parcels for the first time.

Moreover, with the bicycle delivery network Bol.com can ship parcels more sustainably. After all, the ecommerce-giant wants to be climate neutral in 2025. Director Logistics Vincent Weijers from Bol.com: “Moving towards a sustainable and socially responsible last mile is crucial for the future of e-commerce and we will continue to work with all our delivery partners to make this happen.”

Accelerated growth

Cycloon employs around 800 bicycle deliverers, of which around 600 have a distance to the labor market. The delivery company says it wants to continue to pursue their social mission after the takeover. In addition, Cycloon aims for accelerated growth.

Cycloon hopes to accelerate growth with the acquisition.

Managing director Marieke Snoek of Cycloon: “”The partnership with bol.com gives us the opportunity to make an impact on a much larger scale. We will continue to invest in our people, network and partners and this will enable us to improve and further expand the services we provide to our current and new customers.”