Logistics

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.

Amazon has received a record fine of 1.13 billion euros by Italian market authority AGCM. The ecommerce giant’s logistics service Fulfilment by Amazon has abused its market dominance and disadvantages competitors too greatly, according to the regulator.

European online retailer VidaXL has rebranded its dropshipping service to dropshippingXL. Since doing so, the company has grown its product range and logistics facilities. DropshippingXL now has plans to expand to more countries within Europe.

eBay has signed a partnership agreement with InPost, the Polish ecommerce delivery company. Sellers on eBay now get access to InPost's parcel lockers throughout the UK. The move will provide sellers with more flexible postal solutions.

Logistics company Whistl has acquired Relish, a product sampling specialist. For now, Relish will remain as a standalone brand. Thanks to the acquisition, Whistl can expand its range of channels available to customers.

Estonian tech company Feeport has launched its software platform x7trade in the Dutch market. Through the platform, imported bulk low-value B2C goods’ declarations can be automatically logged to EU Member States’ Customs IT systems. Feeport is eyeing further integrations with more states within the EU.

Chinese marketplace AliExpress has announced the launch of a new logistics solution. This enables the company to offer a 10-day delivery guarantee, significantly speeding up deliveries in Europe. The new streamlined network is expected to enhance AliExpress' cross-border ecosystem.

Printful, a printing and fulfilment service from Latvia, is opening a fulfilment center in the United Kingdom. The branch will be operational by the end of this year. The company also has plans for a new facility in Poland, amounting to a total of five European branches.

Sendcloud, the leading e-commerce shipping platform in Europe, has raised 150 million euros in a Series C funding round. The investment was led by Softbank, along with L Catterton and HPE Growth. The Dutch-based company will use the money to accelerate growth and continue its ongoing mission for international expansion.

Arvato Supply Chain Solutions, a supply chain management service provider from Germany, began the use of AutoStore operations in Dortmund today. They will use the largest number of robots in one location in Europe. Approximately 180,000 bins and 280 robots can be used in the new hall.

Amazon wants to expand further in Germany and plans to erect eight new logistics buildings by the first half of 2022. This will create 3.000 additional permanent jobs with Amazon Germany. The expansion is necessary to meet customer demand and expand the range of products.

Berlin Brands Group has plans to massively expand its own logistics network in Europe over the next two years. The German company, which acquires ecommerce brands and Amazon retailers, will open logistics centers in multiple countries across Europe.

Deutsche Post DHL Group has announced it will acquire J.F. Hillebrand Group and its subsidiaries. Hillebrand is specialized in transporting beverages and bulk liquids. The world's largest courier company will pay 1.5 billion euros in cash for the German beverage logistics company.

About 3.4 million square meters of warehouse space in the United Kingdom is slated for construction this year. That's an increase of more than 60 percent compared to the situation one year before.

Active Ants, an e-fulfillment company from the Netherlands, has opened its first distribution center in Belgium. The site is located in Willebroek, a town between Antwerp and Brussels. The Bpost subsidiary is now eying international expansion.