Hellmann Worldwide Logistics Celebrates 150th Anniversary

This year, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics, founded in 1871 in Osnabrück and now operating globally as a full-service provider, celebrates its 150th anniversary. Established in the late 19th century in northern Germany’s Osnabrück with a single horse-drawn cart by Carl Heinrich Hellmann, this traditional family business has developed over four generations into one of the major international logistics providers.

(Osnabrück) Today, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics is represented with 263 branches in 59 countries and employs around 11,000 members of the Hellmann F.A.M.I.L.Y. worldwide, which can rely on a global partner network with nearly 500 offices in 173 countries.

After the transport company for ore and coal shipments became “Gebr. Hellmann” with the sale to Carl Heinrich Hellmann’s two sons in the early 20th century, the company continued to evolve. In addition to establishing its first warehouse in 1912 – a precursor to today’s contract logistics – the portfolio of transport modes was constantly expanded: Initially, truck and rail transport complemented the horse-drawn carts. After World War II, the product portfolio was enhanced by the establishment of a second location in Hamburg as a gateway to the world for sea freight.

Under the leadership of Heinz and Joachim Hellmann, the company already offered international transport services in the 1960s, primarily to Western Europe, but also towards Asia – since 1969 also by air. In 1976 and 1989, Klaus and then Jost Hellmann took over in the fourth generation, making Hellmann what it is today: a globally operating family business that stands for technical innovations, sustainability, and social commitment.

150 Trees for the City of Osnabrück

To symbolically honor this approach, the two partners Klaus and Jost Hellmann, together with CEO Reiner Heiken, planted a tree at the company’s headquarters in Osnabrück for the anniversary. Additionally, the company donated 150 more trees – one for each year in Hellmann’s history – to the city of Osnabrück.

“When I joined the management at Hellmann at the age of 27, there were many wonderful people who supported me and accompanied me on my journey. Since then, I have known: The people at Hellmann make the difference. Therefore, I would like to especially thank all our employees, whose commitment and consistency have made the 150th anniversary possible. At the same time, my heartfelt thanks also go to our loyal customers, many of whom we have been supporting for decades and with whom we have grown together. To position ourselves strongly for the future, we must continue to place sustainability at the center of our business actions. This is true today – and as a logistics service provider, it is more important than ever,” said Klaus Hellmann, partner at Hellmann Worldwide Logistics.

Thanks to the Workforce

“The fact that we are celebrating our 150th anniversary this year is largely due to our willingness to change. The logistics industry is always in motion. Those who do not evolve cannot assert themselves in the market. In 1982 – when we opened our first international branch in Hong Kong – I could not have dreamed that nearly 40 years later we would have such a global network. Innovation and sustainable action have always characterized us and will continue to be what people associate with Hellmann. True to our motto: thinking ahead – moving forward,” said Jost Hellmann, partner at Hellmann Worldwide Logistics.

Thanks to the Hellmann Family

“The Hellmann family has achieved great things, and I am honored to continue the successful company history together with the entire Hellmann F.A.M.I.L.Y. Our present is shaped by profound changes that affect both our industry and society as a whole. Our goal is to build on the successful company history and continue to grow sustainably. We want to leverage the opportunities of digitalization while adhering to our credo “First, people first,” which is enshrined in the F.A.M.I.L.Y. DNA. Because in the future, our employees and customers will continue to be the pillars of our company,” said Reiner Heiken, CEO of Hellmann Worldwide Logistics.

Photo: © Hellmann / Image caption: Jost Hellmann, Reiner Heiken, and Klaus Hellmann celebrate 150 years of Hellmann