From the port to the living room: Through their strategic partnership, Hermes Furniture Delivery Service (HES) and Kemena GmbH are creating a seamless solution for complex supply chains. Since November 2024, the two companies have been combining their expertise to offer an integrated service portfolio focused on transparency, speed and sustainability in the transportation of goods, supporting retailers, manufacturers and importers alike.
Two Partners with Complementary Strengths
At the heart of the partnership is the combination of two complementary areas of expertise. Kemena contributes its many years of experience in warehousing and first-mile logistics. This includes container collection from ports, rail transport, contract logistics and professional inventory management across four locations with a total of around 190,000 square metres of warehouse space.
A key element of Kemena’s logistics strategy is just-in-time (JIT) order fulfilment. Products or components are only manufactured, assembled or packaged once a specific customer order has been received, meaning that processes are demand-driven rather than based on stock. This approach prevents overproduction, reduces inventory levels, shortens lead times and makes it possible to meet individual customer requirements with maximum efficiency.
The Hermes Furniture Delivery Service complements these strengths with its expertise in the distribution of bulky goods to end customers. HES operates Germany’s largest 2-man handling network and is also active in other European markets, including Austria, Switzerland, France and the Netherlands.
With average delivery times of 3.5 working days and optional express solutions, HES serves retailers and manufacturers of furniture and large electrical appliances that rely on dependable logistics processes.
The joint offering therefore covers the entire process, from international procurement, temporary storage and cross-docking through to delivery to end customers, including assembly, installation and the disposal of packaging materials and old appliances. For manufacturers, retailers and importers, this means fewer interfaces, greater transparency and improved planning reliability.
Benefits for Different Target Groups
- Retailers benefit from reliable first-mile coverage, professional warehousing at Kemena’s warehouse and daily transfer of goods to HES. This structure enables fast onward delivery to end customers while ensuring a transparent returns process.
- Manufacturers benefit from a more efficient supply chain, assured product quality through to delivery at the final destination, and additional services such as assembly and installation. This helps reduce complaint rates, particularly for complex goods.
- Importers benefit from Kemena’s international connections via container and rail transport as well as direct integration into the national distribution network. Daily distribution to around 50 HES depots accelerates market entry and reduces lead times.
- Marketplaces benefit from seamless integration into the joint logistics network of Kemena and HES. Orders are processed just in time and delivered directly to end customers, making this an ideal solution for dynamic omnichannel models.
This creates an integrated solution that combines global logistics with local service quality.
Sustainability as an Integral Part of the Partnership
A key element of the partnership is the decarbonisation of logistics processes. Both companies are making substantial investments in emission-reducing technologies and are committed to the circular economy.
- Kemena generates two-thirds of its electricity requirements using its own photovoltaic systems and exclusively uses electric forklifts. The company is also increasingly deploying electric trucks, particularly for shuttle services such as the HUB transport between Kemena and HES.
- HES is electrifying the last mile with a growing fleet, including e-Sprinters with large-capacity batteries. Already today, up to 72 of Germany’s 80 largest cities can be served entirely by electric vehicles, with potential CO₂ savings of up to 2,830 tonnes per year. This is supported by more than 200 charging points and the use of certified green electricity.
- Together both partners focus on industry-specific circular logistics, recycling processes and the consistent conservation of resources.
The wide range of measures demonstrates that sustainability is an integral part of the business model for HES and Kemena. Both companies regard ecological responsibility as a prerequisite for future-proof delivery structures.
“The three pillars of charging infrastructure, an electrified fleet and green electricity form the foundation of the HES sustainability strategy and directly contribute to the Otto Group’s climate targets,” says Heiko Hufenbach, Business Development Manager and Strategic Key Account Manager at HES. “Kemena complements this approach with its own investments in photovoltaic systems and electric trucks. Together, this creates a coherent overall concept that embeds ecological responsibility throughout the entire supply chain.”
HES and Kemena: Initial Feedback from Practice
The partnership between HES and Kemena has been in place since November 2024. The synergies already proved successful during the first year of collaboration: companies that opted for the new, specialised logistics solutions were able to use them to develop their national and international omnichannel business.
The feedback has been positive: the partnership has enabled tailored processes with individually adapted cut-off times and short response times. Particularly in the competitive electronics and furniture retail sectors, the close integration of the first mile and last mile delivers clear benefits. Products reach the retail market faster and become available to end customers sooner, a key factor for companies looking to optimise their time to market.
An Alliance with a Future
The partnership between HES and Kemena is clearly focused on growth. The partners plan to expand into new markets, reach additional customer groups and continuously develop their logistics infrastructure. Both companies also aim to drive investment in automation and sustainability and increase the visibility of their partnership through joint market activities.
This strong alliance provides retailers, manufacturers and importers with a solution that goes beyond traditional logistics services and has the potential to transform the way supply chains are organised for the future.
