Dachser created over 1,000 new jobs in 2008

Kempten, Munich. 12 May 2009. The internationally operating logistics provider, Dachser, again showed a positive development for the past year, posting an increase in sales for the completed business year of EUR 400 million, which is equivalent to 12% growth.

At the same time, the company is switching over to a group-oriented reporting format. In the past, the company has tended to favour a non-consolidated segment reporting approach to present its sales figures. The new presentation of consolidated gross sales shows sales of EUR 3.6 billion for fiscal 2008 (non-consolidated EUR 3.9 billion), compared to EUR 3.2 billion (consolidated) or EUR 3.5 billion (non-consolidated) in 2007. The difference is explained by CFO and managing director Dr Dieter Truxius: “For 2008, we are for the first time presenting consolidated sales in order to create greater transparency and comparability at an international level.” Previously, the published figures also included internal sales, which showed the performances of the individual profit centres.

“In past years, we have communicated our sales figures like medium-sized groupage network partners,” confirms management spokesman Bernhard Simon. With the new presentation method, the family enterprise is presenting its sales figures in line with international accounting standards. For 2008, both sales calculations are disclosed. In future, sales will be published on the basis of consolidated figures. The company presents a solid 37% equity ratio.

Dachser created over 1,000 new jobs in 2008

Increases in staff, consignments and tonnage

All in all, the logistics provider handled 43.3 million consignments last year weighing a total of 29.1 million tonnes. Simon in particular expressed his satisfaction over the continuing good development in the number of employees. At the end of 2008, Dachser employed a staff of 18,175, at 305 locations of whom 10,500 are based in the company’s home country, Germany.

All three core business segments contributed to the positive result

In its core business segment European Logistics, the transport of consolidated goods in the full-coverage European network, Dachser generated consolidated gross sales of EUR 2,360 million.
Dachser Air & Sea Logistics, the global network for intercontinental logistics with activities focused on the USA, Europe and Asia, generated sales of EUR 760 million.
The third business segment, Dachser Food Logistics, posted sales of EUR 450 million for 2008. In food logistics, Dachser offers the combination of full-coverage transport networks and contract logistics. Dachser is a leading provider in the German food logistics market.
Additional other sales amounted to around EUR 45 million.

Dachser created over 1,000 new jobs in 2008

Outlook for 2009

Dachser, too, is not immune to the current economic crisis. The company, like most others, is not making any exact forecast for 2009.
“Dachser has a diversified customer structure. We will to some extent be able to cushion crisis-induced downturns in individual sectors through good market acceptance on the part of new customers,” Bernhard Simon explains.
At the same time, the family-owned company is continuing to invest in the expansion of its worldwide logistics network: in Q1 2009, Dachser established new locations in Chile, Thailand and Bangladesh. With numerous site expansions in Europe, the acquisition and integration of the food logistics specialist Tank and the opening of the Dachser Academy in Cologne, Dachser is giving a clear signal that it is investing in the extension of its customer-oriented network and the qualification of its staff.