Amsterdam, 2 September 2009. GLS Group has been cooperating with Itella Logistics OÜ since the beginning of this month. This reduces regular delivery time by one day for parcels being dispatched from the GLS European hub to Estonia.

“Itella operates an efficient distribution network in Estonia. Via our new partner, we can offer international GLS customers reliable and quick delivery here too”, says Saadi Al-Soudani, Managing Director International at GLS. “Even in the few European countries in which GLS does not yet have its own operational units, service and product quality remain absolute priorities. We are happy to have found a partner in Itella Logistics that pursues the same goals as we do.”

Itella Logistics OÜ, which has its headquarters and a central hub in Tallinn, belongs to the Itella Corporation, a group that emerged from Finland Post. The company group bundles freight and parcel services as well as warehousing and contract logistics solutions in its Logistics unit. Itella Logistics employs about 10,000 people, is mainly focused on northern Europe and is represented in eight countries.

Standard parcel in three days

In the area around Tallinn, the centre of Estonia’s economic activities, Itella Logistics delivers international GLS parcels to consignees on the very same day they arrive in the hub. Delivery to Estonian rural areas may require an additional day for delivery. Shipments are usually en route for three days from the GLS European hub in Neuenstein (Germany) to Tallinn. The long distance transports travel through Poland, Lithuania and Latvia.

“With a share of about 13 per cent in import volume, Germany is Estonia’s second largest import partner. This is reflected in parcel shipment: most of our customers’ shipments to Estonia come from Germany“, says Saadi Al-Soudani. “At the moment, Estonia’s economy is strongly affected by the crisis. We think the exchange of goods will pick up again as soon as the situation consolidates. The Estonian government’s plans to introduce the euro in 2011 might boost the upward trend in international trade in the mid term.”


Quality delivered by GLS

General Logistics Systems B.V., Amsterdam (GLS), is a Pan-European company providing reliable, high-quality parcel and express services as well as value-added logistics solutions. The company offers its services through wholly owned and partner companies in 36 European states, and is globally connected via contractual agreements. The GLS system consists of 36 central transhipment points, 678 depots and 13,000 employees. Some 18,000 vehicles transport 350 million parcels annually for 228,000 customers throughout Europe. In the financial year 2008/09, GLS achieved revenues of 1.8 billion euros. GLS stands for “European Leader in Quality“. This is something that everyone working for GLS strives to achieve every day.