GLS Group

General Logistics Systems B.V., also known as GLS, is a British-owned logistics company based in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The company was known as German Parcel when it was founded in 1989, by Rico Back. It was subsequently rebranded as GLS and is now a subsidiary of Royal Mail.[2][3]

General Logistics Systems B.V.
IndustryPostal service
Founded1999
HeadquartersAmsterdam, Netherlands
Area served
Europe, United States, and Canada
Key people
Martin Seidenberg, CEO
ServicesPostal/Parcel delivery/Collecting
Revenue€2.5 billion
OwnerRoyal Mail
Number of employees
about 17,000[1]
Websitewww.gls-group.eu
GLS vehicle in Tomaszów Mazowiecki (Poland)

Operations

GLS operates directly and via a partnership network within 41 European countries, eight U.S. states and two Canadian provinces.[1][4]

In 2016/17, GLS shipped 508 million parcels for more than 270,000 customers, with annual revenue of €2.5 billion. The firm has approximately 26,000 vehicles servicing 70+ distribution centres. Germany, Italy and France accounted for 54.6% of GLS’ total revenue in full-year 2019-2020.[1]

Financial Results

According to Royal Mail’s full-year 2019-2020 results, GLS contributed 64% of group adjusted operating profit from 30% of group revenues. GLS revenues increased by 15% in FY17/18.[5] In 2019, GLS was estimated to be worth £2 billion based on an operating profit of £180 million and assuming a price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple of 11x.[6]

History

German Parcel was founded in 1989[7][8] as a national parcel service provider in Germany. A European-wide parcel association, General Parcel, was then established in 1992. In 1999, Back led the sale of the company to Royal Mail.

GLS as part of Royal Mail Group

Between 1999 and 2002, Back developed a cross-European parcel service via acquisitions and startups. In 2002, these companies were unified into the General Logistics Systems (GLS) brand.

Between 2016 and 2017, GLS acquired the California-based next-day parcel delivery company Golden State Overnight Delivery Service, as well as the US overnight parcel delivery company Postal Express.[9][10] In September 2018 GLS acquired the Canadian parcel delivery company Dicom, expanding operations in North America and Europe.[11] GLS became one of the largest ground-based deferred parcel networks in Europe,[12] growing revenue from £1 billion in 2002 to £3 billion in 2019.[13]

Criticism

In mid-September 2016, hundreds of parcel delivery workers took strike action in Italian cities of Bergamo, Brescia, Piacenza, Bologna and Parma against GLS and its subcontractors to protest against poor working conditions. On the night of 14–15 September 2016, a van broke through a picket line formed by workers in front of the plant operated by GLS subcontractor SEAM in Piacenza. The van struck and killed Egyptian worker Abd Elsalam Ahmed Eldanf. It was reported that eyewitnesses heard the plant's Chief of Staff ordering the driver to break through the picket line.[14] The Piacenza Prosecutor's office concluded that no strike or protest was taking place at that moment and therefore ruled the death was a car accident. The driver was subsequently released, prompting 7,000 workers to take to the streets in Piacenza and at other GLS offices in Italy, as well as from other firms.[14][15]

References
  1. "GLS facts | GLS Parcel Service".
  2. "Our businesses". www.royalmailgroup.com.
  3. "GLS history | GLS Group | GLS Parcel Service".
  4. "About us | GLS Group | GLS Parcel Service".
  5. "Royal Mail Profits Dive". www.ii.co.uk. Retrieved 2020-09-15.
  6. "These five UK value stocks could offer potential long-term gain". www.trustnet.com. Retrieved 2020-09-15.
  7. "Rico Back to head Royal Mail". Logistics Manager. 2018-04-20. Retrieved 2020-09-22.
  8. "Who is Rico Back, the incoming Royal Mail CEO?". Tamebay. 2018-04-20. Retrieved 2020-09-22.
  9. "GLS buys Postal Express". Post & Parcel. Retrieved 2020-09-22.
  10. "GLS buys Golden State Overnight Delivery Service for $90m". Post & Parcel. 2016-10-04. Retrieved 2020-09-22.
  11. "Royal Mail buys into Canada with $276 million courier deal". CNBC. 2018-09-03. Retrieved 2020-09-22.
  12. Gordona, Michael (2018-09-03). "Royal Mail buys Candian company for £213 million". Investor Times. Retrieved 2020-09-22.
  13. "Royal Mail Share Price Forecast". capital.com. Retrieved 2020-09-22.
  14. "Logistics worker killed while on strike". Labournet TV. Retrieved 8 December 2016.
  15. Arens, Marianne (4 October 2016). "Italy: Strikes and protests against the Renzi government's "Jobs Act"". World Socialist Web Site. Retrieved 8 December 2016.

External sources

Media related to General Logistics Systems at Wikimedia Commons

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