What L.I.T. Gruppe does

L.I.T. Gruppe (legal entity L.I.T. AG – Logistik Information Transport) is a privately held, 100% family-owned German logistics group headquartered in Brake, Lower Saxony. Founded in 1988 by Fokke Fels, Dieter Lauschke, and Roland Schiefke, and wholly owned by Fels since 2014, the group operates five integrated business divisions: Transportlogistik (road, air, sea, and combined/intermodal transport), Kontraktlogistik (warehousing, value-added services, supply chain management, dedicated solutions), Personallogistik (staffing, on-site management), Fahrpersonal- und Fuhrparkmanagement (driver and fleet management), and IT-Services (developed in-house by comLogis GmbH, covering WMS, TMS, and the FreightLution tracking portal).

The group runs a substantial asset base of 2,160 trucks, 5,650 swap bodies, 2,100 trailers, and 1,350 towbars, alongside approximately 1.1 million sqm of logistics space across 100+ locations in 22 countries, serving enterprise customers such as Daimler, Unilever, Mars, Melitta, Knauf, and Amazon (last-mile delivery). Verticals covered include automotive, FMCG, e-commerce, construction materials, DIY retail, healthcare, industry/chemicals, paper/plastic/glass packaging, and steel/coil logistics. Technology differentiation rests on proprietary IT (comLogis), AutoStore and AGV-based automation in contract logistics hubs, the proprietary SSD Baumarktlogistik concept for DIY retail, and a CRM/data warehouse stack built on Microsoft Dynamics.

L.I.T. generates revenue through a mix of transaction-based fees (per-shipment road, air, and sea freight), managed-services contracts (warehousing, dedicated contract logistics, fleet management), and professional-services fees (personnel logistics, IT services, logistics consulting via 4-PL arm lit-solutions). Go-to-market is direct enterprise sales via country- and service-line-organized account management, with cross-selling across the five divisions. Revenue has grown from €391M (2018) to €1.1B (2025, unconsolidated) at a ~28% CAGR, driven by a combination of organic expansion and a steady acquisition cadence (Kieserling 2018, Hölkemeier/ESM/Karl Möller 2024, AUTOTRASPORTI PEDOT 2024, REWOTEC 2024, Kombi Fracht 2025, dataform 2025). EBIT margin improved to 3-4% in 2023 from 1.5% in 2021-2022.

Name

L.I.T. Gruppe

Legal name

L.I.T. AG

Website

https://lit.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

L.I.T. Gruppe is a 100% family-owned German logistics group operating 2,160 trucks, 1.1 million sqm of warehousing, and 100+ locations across 22 countries. It provides integrated transport, contract logistics, personnel, fleet management, and IT services to enterprise customers in automotive, FMCG, e-commerce, and industrial sectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Brake

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices12 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Transportlogistik: Core logistics services including road freight (Lkw Transporte), air freight (Luftfracht), sea freight (Seefracht), and combined/intermodal transport. Revenue generated through freight charges based on distance, weight, and cargo type.
2. Kontraktlogistik: Contract logistics including warehousing (Warehousing), value-added services (display building, co-packing, re-packing, assembly), supply chain management, and dedicated solutions. Revenue from storage fees, handling charges, and service fees.
3. Personallogistik: Personnel logistics services including temporary staffing (Arbeitnehmerüberlassung), contracting (Werkvertrag), on-site management, and personnel placement.
4. Fahrpersonal- und Fuhrparkmanagement: Driver and fleet management services including vehicle management, fuel stations, wash bays, and workshops.
5. IT-Services: IT services including custom software development, WMS/TMS solutions, and digital logistics tools through comLogis GmbH.
6. Air & Sea Freight: International air and sea freight forwarding services with offices in Düsseldorf, Amsterdam, Istanbul, and Nürnberg.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

L.I.T. Gruppe is a Germany-based, 100% family-owned logistics group providing end-to-end supply chain services across Europe. Its portfolio spans transport logistics (road, air, sea, intermodal), contract logistics (warehousing, value-added services, supply chain management), personnel logistics (staffing and driver management), fleet management, and in-house IT services via subsidiary comLogis. The group operates over 100 locations across 22 countries with a fleet of 2,160 trucks, 5,650 swap bodies, 2,100 trailers, and 1.1 million sqm of logistics space.

Product overview

L.I.T. Gruppe operates as a diversified logistics group offering a comprehensive portfolio of services organized into five main divisions: (1) Transport Logistics (L.I.T. Speditions GmbH) including truck, air, sea, and combined transport; (2) Contract Logistics (L.I.T. Lager & Logistik) with warehousing, value-added services, supply chain management, and dedicated solutions; (3) Personnel Logistics (L.I.T. Personalmanagement) covering staffing, recruitment, and qualification; (4) IT Services (comLogis) providing internally-developed warehouse management and transport systems; and (5) Driver and Fleet Management (L.I.T. Cargo GmbH). The group operates through approximately 70 subsidiaries including acquired brands like Hölkemeier, ESM Ertl, Karl Möller, REWOTEC Engineering, and AUTOTRASPORTI PEDOT. Customer-facing digital portals include FreightLution (tracking), Driver Area (driver portal), and an employee portal powered by Sage HR. Internal technology includes NeoCargo for load searching, Microsoft Dynamics for CRM, and proprietary Data Warehouse for acquisition transparency. Key service brands include L.I.T. Speed (emergency logistics), Compact Courier (parcel shipping), and the proprietary SSD Baumarktlogistik solution.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• L.I.T. Speed: 24/7 emergency logistics service for time-critical deliveries
• Compact Courier
• L.I.T. Air & Sea
• SSD Baumarktlogistik
• L.I.T.ERATUR

Products and services

• Transportlogistik (Transport Logistics) Core transport logistics services covering truck transport (Lkw Transporte), air freight (Luftfracht), sea freight (Seefracht), and combined/intermodal transport modes across Europe and globally through the Air & Sea division. Designed for enterprise shippers requiring multimodal freight forwarding.
• Kontraktlogistik (Contract Logistics) Comprehensive contract logistics including warehousing, value-added services (display building, co-packing, re-packing, assembly), supply chain management, and dedicated solutions tailored to customer-specific requirements. Targets enterprise customers with outsourced warehousing and value-added needs.
• Personallogistik (Personnel Logistics) Staffing services including temporary worker placement (Arbeitnehmerüberlassung), contracting (Werkvertrag), on-site management, personnel recruitment, and qualification services. Serves customers requiring flexible workforce and personnel solutions.
• IT-Services (comLogis) IT solutions including in-house developed warehouse management systems (WMS), transportation management systems (TMS), and custom logistics software delivered through subsidiary comLogis GmbH. Used to support internal operations and offered to logistics customers.
• Fahrpersonal- und Fuhrparkmanagement (Driver and Fleet Management) Driver and fleet management services including vehicle management, fuel stations, wash bays, workshops, and driver staffing for enterprise customers and transport partners.
• Transportpartner-Management Freight partner management services for coordinating and managing carrier networks and logistics partnerships, including automated load searching via NeoCargo. Supports transport partners and shippers in capacity matching.
• L.I.T. Air & Sea Freight Air and sea freight forwarding division offering global forwarding services from offices in Düsseldorf, Amsterdam, Istanbul, and Nürnberg. Targets enterprise customers requiring international freight forwarding.
• Compact Courier Digital parcel and letter delivery service with cost control and tracking capabilities, marketed as a digital and customer-oriented package shipping service for business customers.
• L.I.T. Speed Emergency Logistic 24/7 emergency logistics service for time-critical deliveries, accessible via [email protected] and a dedicated hotline, branded 'FAST. FASTER. L.I.T. SPEED!' for urgent transport needs.
• SSD Baumarktlogistik (DIY Retail Logistics) Proprietary DIY store logistics solution (registered trademark SSD®) bypassing the traditional groupage concept by bundling products and delivering directly to all major hardware stores, reducing handling damage and logistics costs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Revenue grew from €391M (2018) to €1.1B (2025) more than doubling in five years
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• LIP INVEST GmbHminorOthers · 1 January 2025Real estate investor from whom L.I.T. leases the fifth logistics hall in GVZ Bremen (20,000 sqm). Commercial landlord relationship.
• L.I.T. Nordics OycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 November 2024Newly founded company in Turku, Finland (November 2024) to build multimodal network of rail and ferry connections between Nordic/Baltic countries and rest of Europe using megatrailers. Reduces CO2 emissions compared to conventional truck transport.
• Hölkemeier Spedition GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 November 2024Parent company of ESM and Karl Möller. Operates customs warehouse at Minden port, temperature-controlled transport with 50 trucks, and RegioPort facility (40,000 sqm climate-controlled). Part of L.I.T. group expanding FMCG logistics capabilities.
• AUTOTRASPORTI PEDOT S.R.L.coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Italian family company (founded 1939) acquired effective January 1, 2024. Provides terminal trucking and domestic Italian road transport capabilities. Operated by third-generation owner Stefano Pedot. Enables L.I.T. to offer self-operated intermodal transport between Italy and Benelux/Germany.
• REWOTEC Engineering GmbHcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Quality engineering company acquired in 2024. Provides sorting, rework, resident engineering, process optimization, and launch management. Operates in Emden, Wolfsburg, and Czech Republic with self-developed QUEST quality management system.
• ESM Ertl Systemlogistik Minden GmbH & Co. KGcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Part of Hölkemeier family since January 2024. Operates 41,500 sqm automated warehouse for sensitive consumer goods including pet food, chocolate, gum. Connected to neighboring pet food manufacturer via automated bridge for just-in-time production supply.
• EWE BasketsminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2022Exclusive partner of EWE Baskets basketball Bundesliga team since 2022/2023 season. Regional brand visibility and community engagement reflecting L.I.T.'s roots in the Oldenburg region.
• KieserlingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Acquired in 2018, Kieserling provided the foundation for L.I.T.'s entry into contract logistics and air/sea freight. A key milestone acquisition that transformed the company's service portfolio.
• Captrain Deutschland (Joint Venture Smartrail Logistics)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Joint venture with rail logistics provider Captrain Deutschland to operate combined road-rail transport. Currently markets three weekly trains from Dresden to Emden carrying VW parts. L.I.T. leverages this for intermodal transport solutions.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Fiege: German family-owned contract logistics provider with strong e-commerce fulfillment, omnichannel distribution, and value-added services. Highly comparable to L.I.T. in family ownership, DACH market focus, mid-market scale, and vertical emphasis on retail/E-commerce and FMCG.
• ID Logistics: French contract logistics provider specializing in FMCG, retail, and e-commerce fulfillment across Europe and emerging markets. Highly comparable mid-market size and warehouse-/fulfillment-led business model to L.I.T.'s Kontraktlogistik division; serves similar B2B enterprise customers.
• Rhenus Logistics: German multimodal logistics provider within Rethmann Group covering road, rail, air, sea, and contract logistics. Comparable to L.I.T. in multimodal service mix, German family-owned parent structure, and contract logistics emphasis; somewhat larger and more globally diversified.
• Dachser: German-headquartered, family-owned multimodal logistics provider with road freight, contract logistics, and warehousing across Europe. Closest comparable to L.I.T. in ownership structure (privately held by founding family), German heritage, and integrated road-plus-warehouse service mix, though much larger in absolute scale.
• Hellmann Worldwide Logistics: German-headquartered global freight forwarder and logistics provider with road, air, sea, and contract logistics. Comparable to L.I.T. in service breadth and European focus; family-influenced ownership structure and similar emphasis on road transport plus forwarding parallel L.I.T.'s profile.
• Arvato (Bertelsmann Supply Chain Solutions): German contract logistics and supply chain management arm of Bertelsmann with strong e-commerce, automotive, FMCG, and healthcare verticals. Comparable vertical mix and warehouse/fulfillment-driven model to L.I.T.'s Kontraktlogistik division, serving similar enterprise customers.

Broad incumbents

• DSV A/S: Danish global freight forwarder and logistics provider that acquired DB Schenker in 2024, vastly expanding European road, contract logistics, and forwarding scale. Competes with L.I.T. across road, air, sea, and contract logistics; orders of magnitude larger post-Schenker integration.
• DHL Group (Deutsche Post DHL): Global logistics giant (parent Deutsche Post) operating DHL Supply Chain, DHL Freight, DHL Global Forwarding, and DHL Express. Enormous scale advantage over L.I.T. across all logistics modes and competes directly in European contract logistics, forwarding, and road transport.
• GEODIS: French-headquartered global logistics provider with strong contract logistics, freight forwarding, distribution, and supply chain optimization. Larger than L.I.T. but competing directly in European contract logistics, automotive logistics, and freight forwarding across shared geographies.
• Kuehne + Nagel: Global #1 sea freight forwarder and top-3 air freight forwarder with significant European road transport and contract logistics. Much larger and more globally diversified than L.I.T., but overlapping in freight forwarding (parallel to L.I.T. Air & Sea), and increasingly in contract logistics and road transport.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights8 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/LIT.Gruppe
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/l-i-t-ag
• Instagraminstagram.com/lit_gruppe

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries22 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about L.I.T. Gruppe