At the end of the 1990s, the further growth of the Gras Group began after Gras Spedition had already been very successful in the areas of land transport and freight forwarding as a founding member of the IDS network, one of the largest general cargo cooperations in Germany, a few years earlier. "This phase has significantly contributed to the positive development and growth of the Gras Group," reports Michael Eifler, Head of Sales & Business Development. "We have significantly increased our market presence and were able to expand our service portfolio through strategic acquisitions." A crucial step was the establishment of Gras Transpack, which set new standards in the logistics sector and acted as a catalyst for further growth. With the acquisition of companies in Baden-Wuerttemberg and North Rhine-Westphalia, Gras Spedition was able to enlarge its service portfolio. "The acquisition of logistics companies in Mannheim and Cologne has helped us expand our capacities and acquire new customers," says Michael Eifler.

Long-term Strategy: Contract and Warehouse Logistics

A highlight in the recent past was the expansion of the contract and warehouse logistics sector in 2021 with two facilities in Polch near Koblenz, of which the first facility, covering 20,000 m2, went live in 2021 and the second facility, totaling 40,000 m2, was fully operational in May 2024. At the newly established Multi User Logistics Campus Polch (MLCP), there are now 75,000 m2 of storage and logistics space available. "We plan to build a freight forwarding terminal of 6,000 m2 by the middle of next year to offer our customers the opportunity to feed their goods directly from the warehouse into the freight network, and to create a basis for further growth," explains Michael Eifler. This expansion is part of the long-term strategy of Gras Group to strengthen their market position and continuously expand their service portfolio. Through the expansion of the service offering, the company can score with a maximum level of flexibility and efficiency, which is crucial in today's fast-paced business world. "We want to offer our customers not just a warehouse, but a complete solution that covers all aspects of logistics," emphasizes Michael Eifler.

Success Factors: Flexibility and Customer Orientation

One of the greatest strengths of Gras Spedition is its ability to respond flexibly and swiftly to the needs of its customers. The company operates with a lean overhead and can thus offer tailored solutions that are both cost-effective and quickly implementable. "We can make and implement decisions quickly within the company, without the bureaucratic burdens that larger corporations often have," says Michael Eifler. This allows Gras Group to meet individual requirements, whether in contract logistics or in specialized storage solutions. "Our flexibility and agility are crucial competitive advantages," emphasizes Michael Eifler. "This allows us to offer our customers real added value and respond quickly to market changes."
Another success factor is the close cooperation with the customers. "We maintain a partnership relationship and rely on open communication," explains Michael Eifler. This proximity to the customers allows the freight forwarding company to address their needs and desires early on and develop innovative solutions. "Our customers appreciate our reliability and the quality of our services," he adds. Through this customer-oriented approach, Gras Spedition has earned an excellent reputation in the industry.

Future Prospects and Strategic Orientation

The Gras Group is well-prepared for the future and plans to further expand its position as a locally leading logistics provider. A key point of the strategy is the digitization and automation of processes. "We are working to make our processes customer-friendly and use case-friendly and to actively co-shape the trends of digital forwarding," explains Michael Eifler. "We succeed in this, among other things, by the know-how of our own IT company (Informatik Team GmbH) within the Gras Group. This allows us to react quickly and flexibly to demands in these areas and design projects individually." With about 550 employees and a revenue of 120 million EUR, the Gras Group handles approximately 8,000 shipments daily. The entire group is certified according to the IFS standard and works closely with long-standing transport partners. "Our employees are our most important asset, and we wish to involve them in our journey," emphasizes Michael Eifler. Through a respectful and open corporate culture and the involvement of employees in decision-making processes, the Gras Group creates a motivating working environment. In the coming years, the Gras Group wants to further strengthen its market position and expand its range of services. "Our goal is to continue being the local number one service provider and to offer our customers tailor-made and innovative solutions," concludes Michael Eifler. With a clear focus on quality, flexibility, and customer orientation, Gras Spedition is well-equipped to achieve this goal.