Rhenus acquires Miami-based Freight Logistics Group

Rhenus has acquired Miami-headquartered high-tech supply chain specialist Freight Logistics as the German freight forwarding group continues on the acquisition trail in the Americas.

Florida-based Freight Logistics operates its own consolidation hub located near in Miami International Airport and has offices in Argentina, Brazil and Chile.

The Freight Logistics acquisition will strengthen the presence of Rhenus Air & Ocean in the Americas following the parent group’s January 2018 purchase of Brazil-based freight forwarder and customs broker Pirâmide SeaAir and Toronto-headquartered Rodair in March this year.

Over the past two years, Rhenus has made a succession of acquisitions in Europe and Africa.

Freight Logistics was founded in 2001 by Gabriel de Godoy in San José, California, at the heart of Silicon Valley, with the aim of providing international transportation and fulfillment services to manufacturers, distributors, systems integrators and resellers of high technology products in the US and Latin America.

The company specialises in supply-chain solutions, international transportation (air & ocean), customs brokerage, compliance, warehousing and distribution. Freight Logistics is IATA-accredited and a licensed non-vessel owning common carrier (NVOCC).

Jörn Schmersahl, chief executive of Rhenus Air & Ocean Americas, said: “The acquisition of Freight Logistics is an important step for us in expanding our business activities in the Americas region and follows our latest acquisition of Rodair in Canada in the beginning of 2019.

“These steps enable us to consolidate our network there and to serve both North America and the Latin American region from Miami as our new gateway. This will help us live up to our goal of being globally oriented and we can establish more links between the continents.”

He added that Freight Logistics’ focus on high tech and IT, including the development of its own proprietary IT software and warehousing management system infrastructure, mobile applications, implementation and integration services, will “complement” Rhenus activities in the region.

Gabriel de Godoy, chief executive of Freight Logistics, said “We’ve found an entrepreneurial-oriented partner in the Rhenus Group. Their worldwide network and significant industry expertise in air, ocean and contract logistics will enable us to continue creating distinctive innovative solutions for our existing and future customers in the region.

“This, as well as our desire for solid growth, unites us with the Rhenus Group and provides us with a springboard for our ongoing development.”

The current management team and all of its employees in the region will remain with the company after the acquisition by Rhenus.