Successful Integration of Opek Marks Milestone in FedEx European Growth Program

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FedEx Express has reached another important milestone in its European growth program by successfully completing the integration of Opek into its global network. The Polish shipping company was acquired in 2012.

At a press event in Warsaw, Michael Holt, Senior Vice President of Operations, FedEx Express Europe, gave an overview of the recent FedEx growth in Poland and Europe while explaining why Poland was a significant market in the FedEx global network.

He said: “With its dynamic foreign trade, Poland is an important market for FedEx. Over the last 12 months we have seen the Polish economy go from strength to strength—the number of packages sent via FedEx from Poland to the rest of Europe has increased by approximately one third compared to the previous 12 months.

“Additionally, the recovery of the North American economy is having a positive knock-on effect on Poland. The number of packages sent by FedEx from Poland to North America has also increased by roughly one third compared to the last year.”

According to the Central Statistical Office of Poland, exports from Poland increased by 6.2 percent in the first quarter of 2014 reaching the overall of value €39.6 billion.  For the same period, imports rose by 2.6 percent reaching €39.2 billion.

Mariusz Mik, Managing Director, Operations, FedEx Express Poland, said: “Following the successful integration of Opek, we have made it easier than ever for our Polish customers to access our full range of domestic and international solutions, helping them benefit from dynamic foreign trade.

“We believe that small businesses, in particular, have a greater opportunity than ever to grow their exports and reach new customers around the world.  Moving goods faster and more reliably within the country as well as across borders can help them to decrease costs, improve supply chains, and enhance their growth and profitability.”

With 95 percent of the world’s consumers living outside the United States, FedEx has recently been investing in countries where business is growing.  Strategic acquisitions, new facilities and enhanced services strengthen the link between emerging economies and the global marketplace.

Europe plays a key role in the company´s growth plans. In 2014, FedEx has reached a significant milestone in Europe by opening the equivalent of nearly one new station per week over a 30-month period. More than 3,700 team members have been added across Europe.

Today, FedEx offers 26 weekly international flights to and from Warsaw, Gdansk and Katowice and operates 44 stations across the country.  With more than 1,300 team members working for FedEx in Poland; 1,400 contracted drivers are delivering shipments to the customers and more than 1,000 branded vehicles are on the roads, FedEx presence in Poland is stronger than ever.

FedEx Express began serving Poland in 1989 and has been continuously expanding its offering of services since then.  In 2012, FedEx acquired Opek Sp. z o.o. with an established national pick-up and delivery network and renamed it to FedEx Express Polska Sp. z o.o. in 2013. 

For more information, please visit: http://www.fedex.com/pl/