Austrian Post to expand into fulfillment with acquisition

Austrian Post is getting into the business of outsourced fulfillment with the planned acquisition of Vienna-based firm Systemlogistik Distribution GmbH. The postal service said the targeted company has two sites in the Austrian capital, providing services for business customers including order processing, storage, picking, packing and store returns.

The acquisition, for which both sides have agreed not to disclose the terms, remains subject to approval by antitrust regulators, but could be completed at the end of next month.

Austrian Post said the acquired infrastructure and resources would be added to its newly-created Logistics Solutions business unit, headed up by Gerald Dregori.

The unit aims to provide customers with value-added logistics and fulfillment activities to expand Austrian Post’s core competency in package distribution.

Peter Umundum, the Austrian Post board member responsible for parcel and logistics, said: “Many well-known Austrian package customers show great interest in an innovative partnership with us to address logistical value-added services.

“With the planned acquisition of the Systemlogistik, we will be able to offer these services in future.”

Founded in 1994, Systemlogistik currently has around 80 employees, with major clients that include Nespresso Austria. The company says it fulfills around a million packages a year.

Austrian Post said the company’s founder and current owner Roman Leydolk would continue on at the firm as managing director.