Panalpina acquires Cool Chain Group, Germany

September 29, 2017: The international freight forwarding and logistics company, Panalpina is expanding its perishables network into Germany, by taking over Cool Chain Group, Germany (CCG). The acquisition also includes the CCG team that is specialised in international air freight and the import of perishables. Panalpina yesterday had announced the acquisition of the Dutch company Interfresh Airfreight Handling.

The new deal will further strengthen the Panalpina Perishables Network in Europe and the company’s global end-to-end offering for fresh produce.

Rungis Express, the parent company of CCG, and Panalpina have agreed to the business takeover on September 28, 2017. As part of this deal, Panalpina in Germany will take over an experienced team of employees and a flourishing perishables business stemming from well over 100 customers and represent around 14,000 tonnes of air freight per year.

“Our recent acquisitions in the perishables market have concentrated on the export side, but we also want to increase our footprint in key import markets and build our end-to-end perishables capabilities at major gateways such as Frankfurt and, as demonstrated yesterday, Amsterdam. These latest developments are further important steps towards offering complete end-to-end solutions on a global scale as we continue to expand our Perishables Network,” explains Stefan Karlen, CEO, Panalpina.

Rungis Express, in a strategic move to focus on their core business of overland distribution and the wholesale of gourmet products, has decided to shift away from international freight forwarding activities.

“Over the years, we have built a very knowledgeable team that specialises in international air freight and the import of perishables such as fresh cut flowers, beans, fish, frozen seafood and mangoes, mostly from Africa and Latin America. However, we want to refocus on our key capabilities and are convinced that these specialists and the customers they serve will be in better hands with Panalpina,” says Kai Schneider, managing director, Rungis Express.

The former managing director of CCG, Markus Kampa, will lead the entire team and further develop the business as Panalpina’s new country head of Perishables in Germany. Panalpina will additionally have access to cold storage space within CCG’s temperature-controlled transit warehouse in Kelsterbach, close to Frankfurt Airport and one of Europe’s most important import hubs for perishables. Furthermore, Panalpina will continue to benefit from CCG’s well-established overland distribution network and cool chain capabilities in Germany and many neighbouring countries.

“We are very happy to welcome the new perishables experts in Germany. We are bringing an experienced team on board that will greatly help to develop perishables end-to-end services for Germany and the neighbouring countries of Switzerland, Austria, Poland and Czechia,” comments Dominik Wiesler, Panalpina’s managing director for Germany.

The companies have agreed not to disclose any financial details of the deal.