Acquisition of logistics service provider Quickly in Italy
Arvato has acquired the logistics service provider Quickly in Italy, based in Anagni near Rome.
"The acquisition has a high strategic importance for us," says Antonio Amati, Managing Director of Arvato Supply Chain Solutions in Italy. "With the new company, we are strengthening our presence in the third-largest logistics market in the EU and at the same time integrating several strategic customers of the Quickly Group into our portfolio." As part of the transaction, which took place on July 1, Arvato also took over the approximately 14,000 square meter site in Anagni and all 102 employees.
"The new location in the Rome metropolitan region is an important first step in the expansion of our Italian network and a perfect complement to our existing sites in northern Italy," emphasizes Matteo Borneto, Director Consumer Products at Arvato Supply Chain Solutions Italia. The supply chain and e-commerce service provider has been active in Italy since 2004 and operates two logistics centers in the Bergamo region with a total area of around 40,000 square meters. Matteo Borneto: "Thanks to its location, the new site in Anagni enables us to serve central and southern Italy more efficiently and to further reduce delivery times so that our customers can reach their end consumers even faster."
The supply chain business of the customer Avon is handled in Anagni. Since 2020, the cosmetics company has been part of Natura & Co, one of the largest beauty groups in the world, which also includes brands such as The Body Shop. "We have taken over the logistics operations for Avon's traditional direct sales business there, as well as the fulfillment for the e-commerce activities,” explains Matteo Borneto. "The goal is to continue to optimize processes. To this end, for example, we will introduce our SAP-based IT system to simplify the flow of information." Also taken over was transport management, for which Arvato uses its close networking with local and international forwarders to offer end customers faster deliveries and new services in the future. Another customer as part of the acquisition is Callmewine – one of the fastest-growing e-commerce platforms for wine and spirits in Italy. The logistics business for this customer will in future be handled at Arvato's existing site in Telgate near Bergamo.
“In Anagni, we have an agile automation solution that is based on a centralized conveyors system for picking, carton erectors and sealers as well as pick-by-light systems," says Matteo Borneto. This not only guarantees efficient processes, but is at the same time another reference for the wide-ranging automation know-how that Arvato has acquired with the implementation of numerous large Shuttle and AutoStore projects as part of the company's automation strategy.
"We have created a balance between automation and personnel that is ideally suited to the needs and continuous development of the Italian market," says Antonio Amati. "However, we can respond flexibly to new requirements at any time – and that makes the difference in the competitive environment." In the Italian market, Arvato focuses on omnichannel fulfillment in the fashion, beauty and lifestyle segment offering solutions for end-customer-oriented companies from the consumer goods industry, as well as from the healthcare sector. "We want to expand this in the future and further push our growth in Italy with customized projects and solutions for companies and their end customers," Antonio Amati clarifies the strategic goal. The Managing Director of Arvato Supply Chan Solutions Italia therefore also sees good opportunities in the partnership with the online marketplace Callmewine to develop know-how in the market for wine and spirits, to adapt the existing logistics and IT expertise to specific sectors, and thus to tap the growth potential in this market.