The L.I.T. Iberian Forwarding Team – from left to right:
Michael Borowski (Operations Manager, L.I.T. Air & Sea GmbH)
Melanie Schuldt (Branch Sales Manager)
Sergi Derqui (Branch Operations Manager)
Laureano Marvez (Business Development Manager)
Brake (D) / Barcelona (ES)
The L.I.T. Group is expanding: Since May 1, 2021, the North German logistics service provider has been represented with its first location in Spain. From the new Barcelona office, located not far from the international seaport, a three-person team will henceforth handle export and import orders for the Iberian Peninsula. Initially, the business will focus on the Air & Sea division as well as overland transport in the Automotive and Food sectors. In the long term, the company aims to broaden its base and open up further industrial fields. In addition, the network for international intermodal transport is to be expanded with the connection of Southern Europe.
“Barcelona has clearly prevailed in the race for the new Spanish L.I.T. location: As the country's second-largest container port and surrounded by the local Automotive industry, the metropolis offers us an ideal environment,” says Simeon Breuer, Managing Director of L.I.T. Speditions GmbH and Board Member of L.I.T. AG. From the Catalan capital, the Brake-based logistics service provider has been handling inquiries for Spanish imports and exports from the Automotive and Food industries by ship and plane since the beginning of May. Road transports by truck are to be activated shortly. Previously, L.I.T. collaborated with partner companies and agents for such orders.
The fifteenth foreign branch of L.I.T. had been planned since 2019, but the Corona crisis delayed the entire process. “Recruiting the team alone took three to four times longer than usual. However, we have now found a top team, and the pandemic is also gradually losing its significance for our industry,” reports Breuer. Three employees from the Sales and Business Development departments are responsible for the Spanish business – with support from the German headquarters and the lead Operations Manager of L.I.T. Air & Sea GmbH, Michael Borowski.
“The L.I.T. philosophy of speaking the ‘language of the customer’ applies literally here, because the Spanish market operates differently from the German one,” explains Breuer. Not only do the processes with shipping companies and port operators differ, but the competitive market is also structured differently: “While in Germany one certainly deals with big players among competitors, the Spanish market is rather fragmented – but precisely therein we see our opportunity.” Having our own personnel on site and mastering the native language are a great advantage here.
The specifically appointed goal of the new location is to establish a stable customer base.