Fnac Darty and CEVA Logistics have announced the creation of Weavenn, a joint venture that aims to become a major player in the European e-commerce logistics and SaaS marketplace. The experts at AURIS Finance, a consultancy specialising in mergers and acquisitions, take a closer look.
Serving a rapidly growing European market: This is the aim of the partnership between Ceva Logistics and Fnac-Darty. Within Weavenn, each entity will contribute its own expertise. Ceva Logistics, a subsidiary of the CMA CGM group, is now one of the world’s leading third-party logistics companies, with a network covering more than 170 countries and a fulfilment platform.
A global solution
This platform, called Shipwire, allows e-tailers to delegate the preparation, packaging, delivery, returns management, and customer support. For its part, Fnac-Darty has a network of 1,000 physical shops combined with an online sales offer, with a total of 24 million unique visitors to its e-commerce sites. The newly created entity will deliver a fully integrated solution combining marketplace technology solutions and high-performance logistics for multi-channel distribution. The new offering will give e-commerce operators a complete solution combining marketplace management, direct-to-consumer sales, and omni-channel delivery.
A 10% annual growth rate
The joint venture, called Weavenn, is expected to be operational by 2024. It will be owned equally (50/50) by Fnac Darty and CEVA Logistics, subject to approval by the relevant authorities. This strategic partnership is part of the two groups’ efforts to strengthen their position in the European e-commerce logistics market, which is worth around €80 billion and is estimated to be growing at more than 10% per year. France has a key role to play as it is one of the most active e-commerce markets in the world. According to Fevad figures, France is currently the second largest e-commerce market in Europe, behind the UK and ahead of Germany, with e-commerce sales of €150 billion, an increase of 13.8% in 2022. The Group hopes to reach a turnover of €200 million within five years.
New mergers are on the horizon
The digitalisation of sales channels has created new needs for retailers. Delivery alone is no longer enough. E-tailers are increasingly looking for global solutions that include order preparation, customer service management, and delivery. For the time being, there are only a few players capable of mastering the entire chain, but more initiatives similar to Weavenn are likely to emerge in the coming months. The major e-tailers are well aware of their needs and can team up with logistics and transport specialists to offer a comprehensive package. By testing their model through their own sales channel, they will then be in a position to address a wider market.
Our experts at your side
Following the example of the merger between Ceva Logistics and Fnac Darty, other players in the market could join forces to create a comprehensive solution for retailers that goes far beyond simple delivery. AURIS Finance is a consultancy with a dedicated transport and logistics practice. They can assist you with your mergers and acquisitions, from target identification to financing.
