Belgian apparel retailer Claes Retail Group is handing its entire logistics operation to Paxon, the rebranded 3PL arm of Bnode (formerly bpostgroup). Around fifty logistics staff are set to move across to the provider.
The Decision
Founded in 1975, Claes Retail Group runs some 200 stores under the JBC, CKS and Mayerline banners across Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands. CEO Bart Claes said the move followed a hard look at the existing setup and the company’s future plans. In a fast-shifting retail landscape, he noted, building out in-house logistics further would have demanded heavy investment in both infrastructure and expertise.
The Transition
The activity, until now managed internally from Houthalen, will shift to a new distribution centre run by Active Ants, one of the brands gathered under Paxon. Active Ants, Dutch in origin, will soon adopt the Paxon name, as will the other units in Bnode’s 3PL pole, including Staci and Radial. The new site for Claes Retail Group lands in Beringen, about 15 km from Houthalen in eastern Belgium.
Market Context
Retailers under margin pressure keep concluding that warehousing is not where they want to spend. Outsourcing to a scaled operator buys flexibility without the capital outlay. For Paxon, freshly consolidated under a single brand, the contract is an early proof point that the rebrand can win business.
