The GLS Group is adding two more countries to its European logistics network by acquiring new partners with strong positions in their local markets. In Croatia, parcels for GLS are transported by ZUMEx, and in Serbia by the company AKS Express Kurir. Conversely, since June, GLS has been transporting parcels for both partners across Europe.
Germany, Italy, and France are important trading partners for Croatia and Serbia. Located in the southeastern part of Europe, these countries conduct approximately 55% of their trade with the European Union.
– To ensure our customers’ parcels reach our recipients reliably and quickly, we rely on strong partners with a good position in the region – and in this way, we are adding two more valuable elements to our European network – says Rico Back, CEO of the GLS Group.
GLS considers this form of cooperation a good solution in the few European countries where it is not active through its own subsidiaries.
The new network partner ZUMEx is one of the three largest logistics operators in Croatia, while AKS Express Kurir is a leader in the Serbian market for express shipments. The product range of these companies includes both parcel and express transport services as well as warehousing. ZUMEx has five branches and a central sorting center and intends to continue growing. It plans to open five more branches. The company AKS Express Kurir has 20 distribution centers and one central sorting center in Serbia.
After customs clearance in the destination country, the partners deliver GLS parcels within 24 hours nationwide. Only deliveries to Croatian islands take slightly longer due to irregular ferry connections with the mainland transport network.
Croatia is connected to the GLS network through daily line-haul connections between the Slovenian GLS sorting center in Ljubljana and Zagreb, while Serbia is connected through transport from the Hungarian sorting center in Budapest via Szeged to Subotica.
In June, the Balkan partners expanded their offer to include international parcel shipping. Shipments are integrated into the extensive European GLS network, which currently covers 42 countries.
– The ability to offer uniform products and services across Europe is a strategic advantage for us in the market – explains Marko Janković, COO at ZUMEx. Aleksandar Stanojević, Managing Partner at AKS Express Kurir, also emphasizes the growing importance of international connectivity.
– Our customers are increasingly looking beyond Serbia’s borders and expect us, as a market leader in high-quality solutions, to also provide transport for parcels sent outside the country. And this is exactly what we can offer throughout Europe thanks to our cooperation with GLS.
Both companies hope for further growth as a result of this venture.