Gebrüder Weiss celebrates 20 years of operations in Serbia

Since its launch two decades ago, the logistics company in Serbia has invested over 20 million euros in expanding its network and services. A new logistics warehouse has been established at its headquarters near Belgrade, and the company is a pioneer in dual education for logisticians.

Twenty years after entering the Serbian market, the international transport and logistics company Gebrüder Weiss draws positive conclusions. ‘Serbia has experienced exceptional economic growth in recent years. We made the right decision by establishing a central logistics hub here for the Western Balkans,’ explained Wolfram Senger-Weiss, Chairman of the Board at Gebrüder Weiss, to the media representatives in Belgrade on October 18.

Serbia has developed into an attractive market for sourcing auto parts, food, textiles, and furniture, with around 70 per cent of exports going to the EU. Additionally, this Balkan country is a major supplier of agricultural products to many neighbouring countries, including Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and North Macedonia.

Today, Gebrüder Weiss offers its customers in Serbia land, air, and sea transport, customs clearance, and logistics solutions. Groupage transport to neighbouring countries and the EU internal market is carried out several times weekly. The logistics company has a total of 20,000 square meters of logistics space in the country, achieving a net turnover of 53 million euros in 2023.

In addition to its headquarters in Dobanovci near Belgrade, Gebrüder Weiss has three other locations in Serbia: in Novi Sad to the north and in Niš and Strojkovce near Leskovac in the south. A new logistics warehouse was recently launched in Dobanovci, bringing the total investment in logistics warehouses to over 20 million euros. ‘By the end of the year, we will invest another million euros in our Home Delivery services and additional storage space,’ says Thomas Schauer, Regional Manager for Central and Southeastern Europe at Gebrüder Weiss.

Another focus is on sustainability. The Dobanovci site sources all its electricity needs from a solar system, reducing CO2 emissions by 90 tons annually. Eight natural gas (CNG) trucks operate on four routes for the consumer goods industry. Additionally, cleaning agents are sustainably transported by rail to Germany. ‘Every year, 1,500 containers are transported by rail from Budapest to the Ruhr region, saving over a thousand tons of CO2 compared to conventional truck transport,’ explains Roland Raith, Manager for Serbia at Gebrüder Weiss. Next year, zero-emission e-transporters will also be used for deliveries to end customers in Serbia.

Starting in 2004 with a small office in Belgrade, Gebrüder Weiss now employs 300 people in Serbia. It was one of the first logistics companies to implement the principle of dual education for young professionals here. Since 2018, young specialists have been undergoing both practical and academic training in cooperation with the Traffic and Technical School in Belgrade. ‘We offer career starters good long-term job prospects in various logistics professions,’ says Roland Raith.

Gebrüder Weiss Serbia in Numbers:

• Founded: 2004
• Annual revenue in 2023: 53 million euros
• Employees: 300
• Logistics area: 20,000 square meters
• Total investment since market entry: over 20 million euros
• Latest expansion: 3,600 square meters of new storage space at the Dobanovci headquarters
• Shipments by land in 2023: 290,000
• Home Delivery shipments in 2023: 62,000