Fortaleza Capital corporate finance adviser to DPD Netherlands on the acquisition of Cool Runnings Transport 

About Cool Runnings Transport: Cool Runnings Transport, based in Gilze (the Netherlands), is a logistics expert that specialises in conditioned transport for the last mile, particularly of fresh and frozen foods. The company delivers conditioned shipments on a regular basis throughout the Netherlands and Flanders. Additionally, Cool Runnings takes care of customers’ product storage and is fully equipped to act as a fulfilment partner.

Online demand for fresh food and beverages has risen significantly since 2019 and DPD Netherlands is now responding to this trend through its collaboration with Cool Runnings Transport. DPDgroup already delivers fresh food in other countries including Belgium, France and Spain.

DPD Netherlands has been active in the field of conditioned transport for some time now. Last year, Fortaleza Capital advised DPD Netherlands on the acquisition of BK Pharma Logistics and BK Sneltransport. BK specialises in conditioned transport for major national and international businesses in the healthcare, food and laboratory industry. By acquiring Cool Runnings Transport, DPD Netherlands now further expands its services to include fresh food transportation. 

Emiel van den Akker, Operational Director of Cool Runnings Transport: “Through this collaboration with DPD we see huge opportunities to come up with an answer to the electrification of logistics. We also want to further expand our B2B network and be able to offer a good solution for B2C as well. Together we can build a strong, temperature-controlled network for Food and Healthcare, with the environment and quality at its heart.”

DPD Netherlands will take over the 65 employees of Cool Runnings Transport. Nothing will change for customers of all the parties and they will remain customer of the organisation from which they currently receive their services. Cool Runnings Transport and DPD will continue to exist alongside each other and the organisations will continue to be managed independently. 

About DPD: DPD Netherlands is part of the international DPDgroup, which in turn is part of the French Groupe La Poste. DPDgroup is the largest network for parcel delivery services in Europe. The company combines innovative technology and local knowledge to provide a flexible and user-friendly service for both shippers and shoppers. DPDgroup strives to be the model of sustainable delivery and to act as a major driver in accelerating the expansion of e-commerce.

With 120,000 delivery experts and a network of more than 70,000 Pickup points, DPDgroup delivers 8.4 million parcels each day – 2.1 billion parcels per year – via the brands DPD, Chronopost, SEUR and BRT. DPDgroup is the parcel delivery network of GeoPost, which posted sales of €14.7 billion in 2021. GeoPost is a holding company owned by Le Groupe La Poste.

Eric Dietz, former CEO of DPD Netherlands commented: “We are delighted to work together with Cool Runnings Transport. In addition to successful ventures abroad (ChronoFresh France, DPD Fresh Belgium and Seur Frio Spain), we are now entering the fresh food market in the Netherlands. Our E-shopper Barometer study has shown that online shopping for food has grown strongly, due in part to the pandemic. This has resulted in new trends and a growing desire to consume products that are accessible through short circuits. It demands a specific type of delivery, which we can achieve together with Cool Runnings Transport.”

The press release can be found here (English) and here (Dutch).