Cargo Velo and De Fietskoerier join forces and together become the largest bicycle courier company in Belgium. The merger brings together a fleet of around 50 (part-time) couriers, good for more than 250,000 cycled kilometers per year and an expected turnover of well over 1 million euros.
Both companies share the same vision on sustainable city logistics. According to CEO Willem-Frederik Schiltz of Cargo Velo and manager Sim Coddé of De Fietskoerier, the bicycle is the most efficient means of transport in urban environments. They refer to figures from the Belgian Cycle Logistics Federation (BCLF), which show that bicycle couriers in the city deliver on average 30% faster than delivery vans.
In addition to the ecological advantage – no CO2 emissions, less particulate matter and less space taken up – both companies also emphasize the importance of fair working conditions. “Honest work and quality service are inextricably linked,” says Schiltz.
De Fietskoerier, active since 1999, has built a strong reputation in express and specialized transport in Antwerp, including for medical and fragile shipments. Cargo Velo, founded in 2012, is working on urban distribution from city fringe hubs in Ghent, Brussels and Antwerp.
Sim Coddé and Stijn Van Hofstraeten of De Fietskoerier become co-shareholders of Cargo Velo and remain involved in its operations. With the merger, both parties want to further strengthen their position in sustainable city logistics and convince more companies of bicycle deliveries as an efficient alternative to vans.
