New logistics warehouse at the headquarters near Belgrade operates on solar power
Twenty years after entering the Serbian market, the international transport and logistics company Gebrüder Weiss reflects on its accomplishments in the region and celebrates 20 years in Serbia. “Serbia has undergone remarkable economic development in recent years. Our decision to establish a central logistics hub for the Western Balkans here has proven to be the right one,” explained Wolfram Senger-Weiss, CEO of Gebrüder Weiss.
Serbia has developed into an attractive procurement market for automotive parts, food, textiles, and furniture, with around 70 percent of exports going to the EU. In addition, the Balkan country is the main supplier of agricultural products to many of its neighboring countries, including Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and North Macedonia.
Today, Gebrüder Weiss offers its customers in Serbia land, air, andsea freight transport, customs clearance, and logistics solutions. Groupage freight shipments go to neighboring countries and the EU single market several times a week. The logistics provider has a total of 20,000 square meters (more than 250,000 square feet) of logistics space in the country. In 2023, the company generated net revenue of 53 million euros.
In addition to its headquarters in Dobanovci near Belgrade, Gebrüder Weiss has three other locations in Serbia: in Novi Sad in the north and in Niš and Strojkovce near Leskovac in the south. A new logistics warehouse in Dobanovci recently commenced operations. The company has already invested over 20 million euros in its logistics facilities. “By the end of the year, we will have invested an additional million euros in our home delivery services and additional warehouse space,” says Thomas Schauer, Regional Manager for Central and Southeastern Europe at Gebrüder Weiss.
Another area of focus for the logistics industry leader is sustainability. The company’s Dobanovci location obtains all of its electricity from a solar power plant, reducing CO2 emissions by 90 tons per year. Eight natural gas trucks (CNG) operate on four routes for the consumer goods industry. In addition, detergents and cleaning agents are transported sustainably by rail to Germany.
“Every year, 1,500 containers roll by rail from Budapest to the Ruhr area. This saves us more than a thousand tons of CO2 compared to conventional truck transport,” explains Roland Raith, Country Manager Serbia at Gebrüder Weiss. Next year, zero-emission e-transporters will also be used for deliveries to end customers in Serbia.
Starting with a small office in Belgrade in 2004, Gebrüder Weiss now employs 300 people in Serbia. Gebrüder Weiss was one of the first logistics companies to implement the principle of dual training for young professionals there. Since 2018, young professionals have been receiving both on-the-job and academic training in cooperation with the Transport and Technical School in Belgrade. “We offer young professionals long-term career prospects in a range of logistics occupations,” says Roland Raith.
Gebrüder Weiss Serbia at a glance:
Founded: 2004
2023 annual revenue: 53 million euros
Employees: 300
Logistics area: 20,000 square meters
Investment volume since market entry: over 20 million euros
Latest expansion: 3,600 square meters of new warehouse space at the Dobanovci headquarters
Overland shipments handled in 2023: 290,000
Home deliveries in 2023: 62,000
