Poste Italiane targets logistics growth with rail JV
Poste Italiane, the Italian postal group, is aiming to expand in the logistics sector with the formation of a joint venture with Italian Railways (Ferrovie dello Stato/FS).
The two groups announced they will merge their small logistics businesses, SDA Logistica (Poste Italiane) and Omnia Logistica (FS), into a single company to be called Italia Logistica. This will initially have revenues of some EUR 70 million, putting it among the top ten Italian logistics companies, according to the two groups. They hope it will grow into a market leader by 2010.
SDA Logistica, founded in 2000, is currently a unit of SDA Express Courier, Poste Italiane’s express and parcels delivery subsidiary, and uses its operational network of 96 depots, six distribution hubs and two air gateways. SDA Express Courier, with some 3,100 staff, had revenues of EUR 460 million in 2007.
Italia Logistica will focus on offering long-distance intermodal freight transportation using both rail and road, combined with door-to-door delivery services. It will use the two groups’ acceptance and distribution facilities. Additional services will include return logistics and hotel/catering logistics.
Poste Italiane director general Massimo Sarmi said that the two groups were combining their logistics and technological experience in order to create a national logistics operator able to compete with the leading European players.
