Hellmann Worldwide Logistics has opened a fully-owned subsidiary in Colombia as part of its expansion across the Americas.
The company explained that it had been active in Colombia for almost 30 years through local partner companies, establishing a strong market presence.
More recently, it gained a foothold in the country following the acquisition of its US-headquartered perishables partner HPL Apollo, but it has now decided to take the next step by formally establishing its own subsidiary specialising in end-to-end logistics for general cargo and other verticals, including airfreight, seafreight, customs brokerage, and contract logistics.
Hellmann chief executive Jens Drewes said: “Following the takeover of HPL Apollo in the United States and the inclusion of its Colombian operations, establishing a fully integrated own country organisation in Colombia marks another milestone in our global expansion strategy.
“The Americas is a key market for us, and this development strengthens our presence and enhances our ability to serve customers across this strategically important region.”
Peter Huwel, regional chief executive, Americas, added: “After seven successful years of collaboration with our local partner ABC Cargo Logistics, we are proud to take the next step by establishing our own Hellmann operations in Colombia.
“This launch strengthens our ability to deliver the high-quality, integrated logistics solutions our customers expect from Hellmann, while positioning us to drive continued growth across the region.”
Hellmann’s takeover of HPL Apollo was completed in February. The German forwarder said the investment would help expand its footprint in the perishable market and enhance its capability to ”deliver tailored solutions to customers worldwide”.