M&S Expands Zalando Logistics Partnership
Mark & Spencer (M&S) has announced an extension of its logistics deal with Zalando, enhancing delivery efficiency across Europe. The agreement, initially reported in Zalando’s Q3 results, highlights a shift towards using Zalando’s B2B logistics solution, ZEOS, for M&S’s entire online direct-to-consumer service in continental Europe starting early next year.
Background of the Partnership
Since 2022, M&S has worked with Zalando on a smaller scale, fulfilling orders through three marketplace partners in Europe: Zalando, About You, and Amazon. The new expansion marks a significant increase in the scope of this collaboration.
Zalando’s Role and Market Reach
ZEOS will serve 21 markets, offering M&S improved inventory efficiency by creating a unified stock pool and an advanced order management system tailored for Fashion, Home, and Beauty products.
"The retailer said that in the last quarter, it has seen rapid growth online with Zalando sales up 131% vs last year."
Significance of the Deal
The deepening relationship shows the strong confidence UK retailers have in Zalando’s logistics expertise to grow their presence in mainland Europe. A similar partnership also exists between Zalando and the UK retailer Next.
Key Benefits for M&S
- Faster delivery times across Europe, potentially reducing delivery times by three days.
- Access to Zalando’s efficient inventory and order management.
- Extended market reach with a consistent stock system across multiple countries.
Author’s summary: M&S’s expanded logistics partnership with Zalando, leveraging its ZEOS system, aims to boost delivery speed and operational efficiency across 21 European markets, reflecting strong growth in online sales.