Business, Feature, Freight News, Logistics

DHL Expands Reverse Logistics, Buying Inmar

[ February 14, 2025   //   Gary G Burrows ]

DHL Supply Chain said it will become North America’s largest provider of reverse logistics solutions through acquiring Inmar Supply Chain Solutions, a returns solutions provider for the retail e-commerce industry.
The acquisition will result in 14 return centers and around 800 associates joining the DHL Supply Chain business expanding the company’s North American footprint from its current 520-plus warehouses supported and 52,000 associates.
DHL Supply Chain will also strengthen its returns capabilities to include product remarketing, recall management, and supply chain performance analytics. Parent company Inmar Intelligence will retain its pharmaceutical reverse distribution business.
Returns are becoming an increasingly important touchpoint considering the rapidly growing e-commerce market and changing consumer behavior, both in store and online. DHL said adding Inmar Supply Chain Solutions expands the value-added services available to its customers and create a more strategic delivery of holistic solutions for their most complex supply chain needs, the company said.
“The strategic growth opportunities that the returns market brings will enhance the success of DHL Supply Chain,” said Patrick Kelleher, CEO of DHL Supply Chain, North America. “It also puts us on the right path to support DHL Group’s plan to achieve 50 percent revenue growth by 2030 compared to 2023 as outlined in our recently announced Strategy 2030.”
“We are thrilled that Inmar associates will have an even broader set of supply chain experiences available from which they can continue to learn and develop over time at DHL,” said Spencer Baird, CEO of Inmar Intelligence. “This deal sets the stage for us to apply an even deeper level of focus and investment into our core businesses that are expanding rapidly.”
With the returns market valued at nearly US$1 trillion, retailers continue to struggle with the evolving consumer behavior towards the process. Adding Inmar’s reverse logistics expertise, dedicated team of experts, and its technology-driven suite of returns services, will enable DHL Supply Chain to provide data-backed, innovative solutions that help returns to be a positive experience for consumers and protect profitability in a competitive marketplace for the retailer,” said Kraig Foreman, president eCommerce for DHL Supply Chain, North America.
The acquisition of Inmar Supply Chain Solutions will also contribute to DHL’s strategic goal of decarbonizing its business by 2050, as part of its recently announced Strategy 2030.
At the core of returns management is the need to drive sustainability, and DHL said Inmar’s technology-driven reverse logistics solutions will reduce cost and eliminate waste generated from returned consumer goods. Emphasizing recommerce, which has diverted 99 percent of consumer returns from reaching a landfill, aligns with DHL’s commitment to make customers’ supply chains more sustainable, the company said.

Tags: DHL Supply Chain