bpost: CEO Chris Peeters defends the work of 37,000 bnode employees
During today’s hearing of the parliamentary committee on Economy, Consumer Protection and Digital Agenda, Chris Peeters, CEO of bnode (the parent company of bpost), clarified the context and scope of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) that bnode signed with TEMU last year. The agreement sparked considerable debate, largely due to a misunderstanding among certain interest groups regarding the distinction between the entities bnode and bpost and the services involved. In reality, the agreement will only result in the company transporting more parcels from local producers.
Chris Peeters explained that the MoU with TEMU was concluded by bnode, the international logistics group and parent company of bpost, and relates exclusively to logistics services for European and Belgian sellers seeking to offer their products via TEMU. These services cover warehousing and fulfilment through subsidiaries such as Radial, Staci and Active Ants for products from European suppliers — and not the import of additional Chinese parcels into Belgium. This approach aligns with TEMU’s ambition to generate 80% of its European sales in the future through local sellers and local fulfilment. As a result, only more local products will be transported.
Postal operators in France (La Poste), the United Kingdom (Royal Mail), Germany (DHL) and the Netherlands (PostNL) have established similar partnerships with TEMU.
“I fight for every employee of our company. bnode is in the midst of a transformation from a traditional postal operator into an international logistics player,” CEO Chris Peeters says. “We are doing this to safeguard employment and secure a future for our 37,000 employees worldwide, including 25,000 in Belgium, in a declining letter mail market. As one of the country’s largest employers, we take our responsibility seriously. Parcels are our future.”
The delivery of Chinese parcels in Belgium is entirely separate from this MoU and is handled by bpost, which is part of bnode. bpost only delivers these parcels once they have been cleared by customs and are therefore authorised to enter the Belgian market. In the current free and highly competitive Belgian market, bpost does not differ from other parcel delivery companies, which also deliver Chinese parcels in Belgium.
bnode shares the concerns of business associations about the lack of a level playing field and supports the need for stricter controls on imported products. The company calls for constructive dialogue with Unizo, Comeos, UCM and NSZ to jointly strengthen the Belgian economy, employment and consumer protection.
