THE COURIER

Name

THE COURIER

Legal name

DER KURIER GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://derkurier.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Express Courier Services

NAICS

Couriers and Express Delivery Services (49211)

SIC

Trucking & Courier Services (No Air) (4210)

akta.pro primary industry

Same-Day / On-Demand Express Courier (TLAAABAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Consolidated Linehaul + Last-Mile Parcel Delivery (TLAAACAF)

Keywords

• Overnight express delivery
• Courier services
• Express logistics
• Parcel delivery
• Time-definite delivery

Headquarters

HQ city

Neuenstein

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Express and Courier Services: DER KURIER provides express delivery services with base service being overnight express delivery within Germany (by 12:00 next business day). Additional optional services include time-definite delivery (9:00, 10:00, 12:00, 17:00, or custom time windows), Saturday/Sunday/holiday delivery, personal delivery with ID verification, zone delivery to specific locations (office, factory, hospital), trade show delivery service, X-Change service for simultaneous delivery and return pickup, mailbox delivery, direct courier runs, and pickup from any specified address. International services cover Europe and globally through GLS partnership.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

DER KURIER provides overnight express courier and parcel delivery services across Germany (delivery by 12:00 next business day), next-business-day delivery across European partner countries, and worldwide shipping through its parent company GLS. The company operates a hub-and-spoke network of approximately 250 independent stations with flexible time-definite, weekend, holiday, and zone-specific delivery options, complemented by value-added logistics services such as identity verification and device exchange.

Product overview

DER KURIER is an overnight express and courier delivery service company operating as part of the GLS Group. The company's product portfolio centers on Express- & Kurierleistung (Express & Courier Services) as the core offering, supported by geographic tiers: Deutschlandweit (domestic Germany), Europaweit (Europe-wide), and Global (worldwide via GLS). Optional add-on modules include Terminoptionen (time slot options), Zustelloptionen (delivery options), Abholoptionen (pickup options), Sendungsverfolgung (track & trace), and Mehrwertlogistik (value-added logistics). The network consists of approximately 250 independent courier stations connected via an internet-based platform with a central hub in Neuenstein, Hesse.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Express & Courier Services (Express- & Kurierleistung) Core overnight express delivery service for documents and packages up to 50 kg, operating 365 days a year around the clock with pickup and delivery options across Germany, Europe, and globally.
• Deutschlandweit (Domestic Germany Overnight Express) Overnight express delivery service within Germany, delivering packages by 12:00 PM the next business day nationwide, with optional time slots, Saturday/Sunday/holiday delivery, and zone-specific deliveries.
• Europaweit (Europe-wide Express) Express delivery service to European countries (Austria, Switzerland, France, Benelux, UK, Denmark, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary), typically delivering by end of the next business day, with options for specific delivery times and trade fair service.
• Global (Worldwide Shipping) Global shipping service to all countries worldwide, operated through parent company GLS and reliable partners in respective countries.
• Mehrwertlogistik (Value-Added Logistics) Additional value-added logistics services such as identity verification, device exchange, automated machine refilling, and warehousing solutions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Overnight delivery within Germany by 12:00 next business day (Monday-Friday base service)
• +2 more outcomes

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• GLS (General Logistics Systems)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGLS is the parent company of DER KURIER. German Parcel (now GLS) became the sole shareholder of the DER KURIER group in 1999. GLS provides DER KURIER access to its global network for international shipments outside the direct European partner network. DER KURIER handles express products for GLS in many European countries (e.g., Euro Express Parcel). The companies share facilities (Hub location moved to GLS site in 2010).
• European Partner Stations (Austria, Switzerland, France, Benelux, UK, Denmark, Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDirect partnerships with established courier companies in 10 European countries. These partners are integrated into the DER KURIER network, enabling next-business-day delivery across Europe. DER KURIER and partners use shared IT platforms (LEO software) for shipment processing and tracking.
• OverNight Service GmbHminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded in 1984 in Hamburg to offer nationwide overnight transport. Initially moved shipments primarily by rail. Now part of the DER KURIER group structure.
• LFT Logistik für Transportdienste GmbH (formerly XPR GmbH)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded in 1991 in Neuenstein. Provides OverNight Service GmbH with its own linehaul network and the main sorting hub (Hauptumschlag) in Neuenstein.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves19 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• DHL Express: DHL Express is the dominant time-definite international and domestic German integrator with air- and ground-based express services. Overlaps with DER KURIER on time-definite B2B express but operates at vastly greater scale and global scope.
• UPS: UPS is a global integrator with strong domestic German presence in B2B time-definite and next-day air/ground services. Comparable on express service category but at much larger scale and broader product mix.
• GLS Germany: GLS is DER KURIER's parent and a pan-European parcel leader offering standard and express parcel services across Germany and Europe. Overlapping capabilities but a wider portfolio and broader customer mix make GLS a broad incumbent rather than direct niche peer.
• TNT Express (FedEx): TNT, now part of FedEx, historically operated strong intra-Europe time-definite road networks comparable to DER KURIER's overnight proposition. Comparable on time-definite Europe-wide express B2B shipping.
• FedEx: FedEx is a global integrator serving German B2B customers with priority overnight and time-definite express. Comparable on time-definite international express but at much larger scale and with broader portfolio.
• Hermes Germany (Evri): Hermes operates a large German parcel network spanning B2B and B2C with selected time-definite options. Comparable on parcel delivery infrastructure and German depot model, though skewed more toward B2C standard parcel than DER KURIER's B2B overnight focus.

Emerging players

• Liefery: Liefery is a digital B2B same-day and scheduled courier platform in Germany serving retailers and SMBs via API and partner drivers. Comparable on German B2B courier service but differentiated by digital booking and on-demand gig-driver model.

Direct peers

• GO! Express & Logistics: GO! is a German overnight express and courier specialist operating a national linehaul-plus-station network with time-definite B2B delivery. Directly comparable to DER KURIER on geography, customer (B2B), and overnight express service model.
• DPD Germany: DPD operates one of the largest B2B/B2C parcel networks in Germany with time-definite pickup and delivery options. Closely comparable on domestic German parcel-express service and depot-based distribution model.
• Night Star Express: Night Star Express is a German overnight B2B courier with next-day delivery nationwide. Comparable niche, customer profile, and overnight time-definite value proposition to DER KURIER.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/der-kurier-gmbh-co-kg

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries4 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 THE COURIER