ThielemannGroup
ThielemannGroup Holding GmbH is a private Mönchengladbach-based logistics holding founded in 2022 by Navid Thielemann, bundling 22 companies across freight forwarding, contract logistics, sustainable logistics real estate development, and startup investments under one umbrella, serving enterprise customers such as HARIBO, DEUTZ, Makita, and GLS with 400+ million EUR in annual revenue.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2022
- HeadquartersMönchengladbach, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What ThielemannGroup does
ThielemannGroup Holding GmbH is a privately held Mönchengladbach-based holding company founded in November 2022 by entrepreneur Navid Thielemann to consolidate his logistics, real estate, and startup investment activities under a single umbrella. The group operates across three divisions: Spedition + Logistik (RECHT Logistik Gruppe with 12+ German locations and ~500 employees, BOXX Intermodal Logistics for rail intermodal, and previously OLS for ocean freight); Investments + Start-ups (FIVE Investments vehicle and FIVE-up incubator, with stakes in Pacurion, Boomerang, Lagerkarton, Filics, and Fairsenden); and Projektentwicklung + Immobilien (development of DGNB-certified sustainable logistics real estate through FIVE Investmentgesellschaft, including the 23,000 m² Nettetal e-commerce center, 22,000 m² Böhnen facility, 32,000 m² Wernberg-Köblitz center, 90,000 m² FUSION COLOGNE multi-level project, and 40,000 m² Krefeld campus).
The group generates revenue through managed-services contract logistics and freight forwarding (RECHT Logistik's trucking fleet of ~200 trucks and contract logistics across 150,000+ m² of warehouse space), transaction-fee ocean and air freight (formerly OLS, now part of a project-logistics joint venture with FMS called Overseas Projects GmbH), real estate rental and capital appreciation on owned logistics properties, and equity appreciation from FIVE Investments' startup portfolio. Customer concentration is moderate, with named enterprise clients spanning food/candy (HARIBO), industrial manufacturing (DEUTZ AG, Makita), beverage (Warsteiner/Haus Cramer), parcel delivery (GLS Germany), and retail (KiK), supported by anchor-tenant pre-lease arrangements on new developments. Go-to-market is sales-led and multi-channel: direct enterprise account management through RECHT and OLS, channel partnership via the FMS global network, and co-development with municipal economic development bodies (WFMG, HGK, Hafen Krefeld).
As of 2024-2025, ThielemannGroup reports 400+ million EUR in consolidated annual revenue across 22 portfolio companies and approximately 600 employees, with 240+ million EUR committed to logistics facility development over 2024-2026. The group is wholly owned by CEO Navid Thielemann, with Christian Karl Flick as COO and Dr. Stefan Karenfort as CFO (since April 2025), and is advised by a five-member Beirat including former executives of Duisport, Schenker, and BCG.
ThielemannGroup firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- ThielemannGroup
- Legal name
- ThielemannGroup Holding GmbH
- Website
- https://thielemann-group.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2022
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- ThielemannGroup Holding GmbH is a private Mönchengladbach-based logistics holding founded in 2022 by Navid Thielemann, bundling 22 companies across freight forwarding, contract logistics, sustainable logistics real estate development, and startup investments under one umbrella, serving enterprise customers such as HARIBO, DEUTZ, Makita, and GLS with 400+ million EUR in annual revenue.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
ThielemannGroup industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Logistics Services
- NAICS
- Freight Transportation Arrangement (488510), Support Activities for Transportation (488), Management of Companies and Enterprises (551)
- SIC
- Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Reverse Logistics Coordination (Non-Asset-Based Returns Management) (TLAIANAJ)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Asset Recovery, Liquidation & Secondary Market Logistics (TLAIAHAF)
Keywords
Where ThielemannGroup is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Mönchengladbach
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices10 records
Markets served
ThielemannGroup business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Spedition und Logistik (RECHT Logistik Gruppe): Contract logistics, freight forwarding, and trucking services provided by RECHT Logistik Gruppe across 12+ German locations. Revenue is generated through a combination of long-term contract logistics agreements and per-shipment/freight charges.
- Overseas Logistics (OLS): Ocean freight, air freight, and cross-border logistics through Overseas Logistic Services GmbH, an OLS entity integrated with the Fr. Meyer’s Sohn global network. Revenue derives from freight charges, customs brokerage, and door-to-door logistics services.
- Project Development and Real Estate: Development and ownership of modern logistics and industrial real estate assets. Revenue is generated through property appreciation, rental income from third-party tenants, and capital gains on asset disposition. Assets are owned through FIVE Investmentgesellschaft.
- Startup Investments via FIVE Investments: ThielemannGroup holds minority and majority stakes in innovative logistics startups (Boomerang, Pacurion, Lagerkarton, Filics, Fairsenden). Revenue accrues through equity appreciation, dividends, and strategic value from integrating innovations into the group’s logistics operations.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
ThielemannGroup product offering
Product offeringCore offering
ThielemannGroup is a German holding company that bundles end-to-end logistics services, logistics real estate development, and investments in innovative logistics startups. The group operates contract logistics, freight forwarding (road and overseas), intermodal rail transport, and develops sustainable logistics properties across Germany through subsidiaries including RECHT Logistik Gruppe, Overseas Logistic Services (formerly), BOXX Intermodal Logistics, and FIVE Investments.
Product overview
ThielemannGroup is a holding company operating under three main divisions: (1) Spedition & Logistics — including Overseas Logistic Services (OLS) for overseas logistics, RECHT Logistik Gruppe comprising trucking/spedition and contract logistics operations, and BOXX Intermodal Logistics for rail-based intermodal transport; (2) Investments & Start-ups — including FIVE Investments and the FIVE-up incubator, with portfolio companies Pacurion (digital load carrier trading), Boomerang (reusable e-commerce packaging), Filics (autonomous pallet transport), and Lagerkarton (sustainable cardboard storage boxes); (3) Project Development & Real Estate — developing sustainable logistics properties for own use and investment, including E-commerce centers and multi-level logistics facilities across Germany. The company offers end-to-end supply chain solutions combining logistics operations, innovative startups, and real estate development.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- FIVE Investments: Investment vehicle of ThielemannGroup focusing on innovative logistics startups
- FIVE-up
- Overseas Projects GmbH
Products and services
- Contract Logistics (RECHT Kontraktlogistik) E-commerce fulfillment, warehousing, value-added services (assembly, customization, picking), and contract logistics for enterprise customers across 12+ German locations with 150,000+ sqm warehouse space. Serves enterprise manufacturers, retailers, and e-commerce businesses.
- Trucking and Freight Forwarding (RECHT Logistik) Spedition (freight forwarding) and trucking services with a fleet of approximately 200 trucks (45 additional on order). Serves enterprise customers for full truckload and contract transport, including sustainable transport using alternative-fuel vehicles (LNG, CNG, hydrogen, electric).
- Intermodal Rail Logistics (BOXX Intermodal Logistics) Door-to-door intermodal transport combining rail and road. Operates a container terminal in Warstein with private rail connection and portal crane, with rail links to Hamburg, Berlin, Munich, and Verona. Handles approximately 30,000 TEU per year.
- Logistics and Warehouse Real Estate Development Development of modern, sustainable logistics and industrial properties for own use and as long-term investments. Properties are pre-leased to affiliated logistics operators and third-party tenants. Includes DGNB-certified multi-level logistics buildings, e-commerce fulfillment centers, and trimodal logistics campuses in Krefeld, Cologne, Wernberg-K\u00f6blitz, B\u00f6nen, and Nettetal.
- Global Project Logistics (Overseas Projects GmbH) Global project logistics services including break-bulk, flatrack, RoRo (roll-on/roll-off), and heavy-lift transports. Originated from the project logistics division of OLS and based in M\u00f6nchengladbach.
Quantifiable outcome
- RECHT Kontraktlogistik has reduced packaging waste by using 50,000 cardboard storage boxes instead of plastic crates, saving over 150,000 kg of CO2 equivalent.
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use ThielemannGroup
Customer profileNamed customers9 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles6 records
ThielemannGroup technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
ThielemannGroup partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- WFMG – Wirtschaftsförderung Mönchengladbach GmbHminorThielemannGroup became a shareholder of WFMG (Economic Development Mönchengladbach GmbH), underscoring its commitment to the Mönchengladbach location. ThielemannGroup also supported the transition of WFMG leadership from Dr. Ulrich Schückhaus to Stefan Anspach. The partnership aims to promote economic development in the Mönchengladbach region.
- Krefelder Container Terminal (KCT) / Hafen Krefeld GmbH & Co. KGcoreThe sustainable logistics campus in Rheinhafen Krefeld is developed adjacent to the KCT multimodal container terminal. KCT provides trimodal access (Rhine river, private rail siding, and proximity to A57 highway), which is a key feature attracting ThielemannGroup’s development. Patrick A. Wisotzky, Managing Director of Hafen Krefeld GmbH, welcomed the development as strengthening the logistics cluster.
- Landschaftsverband Westfalen-Lippe (LWL)minorDuring development of the Bönen logistics center, LWL Archaeology for Westphalia conducted archaeological excavations at the site, preserving historical artifacts including post holes and graves from a settlement dating to ~400 BC, found during construction preparation.
- Fr. Meyer’s Sohn (FMS)coreFr. Meyer’s Sohn and ThielemannGroup established Overseas Projects GmbH as a joint venture focused on global project logistics. FMS holds a minority stake while ThielemannGroup holds the majority. OLS, the overseas freight subsidiary, remains co-owned by both parties (FMS: 51%, ThielemannGroup: 49%). FMS is one of the world’s top 10 ocean freight forwarders with 100+ country coverage, providing global network access to ThielemannGroup’s logistics operations. In September 2025, ThielemannGroup sold its 49% stake in OLS back to FMS, which now owns 100% of OLS.
- Häfen und Güterverkehr Köln AG (HGK)coreHGK and ThielemannGroup plan to form a joint venture to develop a second multi-level logistics property in FUSION COLOGNE at Niehler Hafen in Cologne. The first multi-level property is developed solely by ThielemannGroup and leased to RECHT Logistik for Makita. HGK is the developer of the larger FUSION COLOGNE urban district and holds 55 hectares of revitalized industrial land. HGK’s daughter company will co-use the second logistics building with RECHT Logistik.
- GLS GermanyminorGLS Germany partnered with RECHT Logistik (via the ThielemannGroup network) and vehicle rental company hylane to deploy a Hyundai Xcient Fuel Cell hydrogen truck in the Cologne-Bonn area. RECHT Logistik operates the truck for GLS Germany’s main-route transport and customer parcel collection, enabling emissions-free freight operations.
- KiK Textilien und Non-Food GmbHminorBOXX Intermodal Logistics acquired KiK as a major new customer for its intermodal rail freight services, expanding BOXX’s volume and helping to improve train utilization on existing rail routes from the Warstein terminal.
- Haus Cramer Gruppe (Warsteiner et al.)coreThielemannGroup acquired 49% of BOXX Intermodal Logistics GmbH & Co. KG, the logistics subsidiary of Haus Cramer Gruppe (owner of Warsteiner, Herforder, König Ludwig, and Paderborner breweries). BOXX operates an intermodal container terminal at the Warsteiner brewery with a private rail connection and portal crane, offering door-to-door transport via rail to Hamburg, Berlin, Munich, and Verona. The partnership provides ThielemannGroup with rail freight capabilities and completes its multimodal transport offering.
- Habacker Holding + ThielemannGroup (Joint Venture)minorHabacker Holding and ThielemannGroup collaborated as a joint venture to develop the e-commerce logistics center in Bönen (InlogParc), which ThielemannGroup acquired from the partnership for use by RECHT Kontraktlogistik GmbH. Stephanie Habacker-Arndt of Habacker Holding led the development.
Scale indicators32 records
Recent moves10 records
Expansion highlights8 records
ThielemannGroup competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Dachser: Dachser is one of Europe's largest family-owned logistics providers with a combined freight (road, rail, air, sea) and contract-logistics offering, plus owned warehouse and logistics real estate development - directly comparable to ThielemannGroup's RECHT Logistik + OLS + project development stack and similar German Mittelstand DNA.
- FIEGE Logistik: FIEGE is a family-owned German contract logistics and e-commerce fulfillment specialist with multi-level distribution centers - directly comparable to RECHT Kontraktlogistik's e-commerce and value-added services focus and a similar family-controlled private German 3PL.
- Hellmann Worldwide Logistics: Hellmann is a family-owned German global forwarder with road, rail, air, and sea freight plus contract logistics - comparable to OLS's freighter role and RECHT Logistik's contract logistics footprint, and a similar private German logistics house.
- Rhenus Group: Rhenus is a German Mittelstand 3PL with multimodal freight, contract logistics, warehousing and intermodal services across Europe - a similar family-controlled German logistics platform with both transport operations and real estate development.
Broad incumbents
- DSV A/S: DSV is a Denmark-based global freight forwarder and contract logistics operator built largely via roll-up acquisitions - directly comparable to ThielemannGroup's acquisitive holding strategy across freight forwarding, trucking, and contract logistics.
- Kuehne+Nagel: Kuehne+Nagel is one of the world's top-3 freight forwarders (also a former employer of the founder), directly comparable to the OLS / FMS network ocean and air freight role ThielemannGroup plays and a natural benchmark for cross-border modal scale.
- DB Schenker: DB Schenker is the largest European road, rail, air, and ocean freight forwarder - a former employer of ThielemannGroup's CEO and the closest broad incumbent analogue to Thielemann's combined freight forwarding + contract logistics + intermodal coverage.
Emerging players
- Pacurion: Pacurion is ThielemannGroup's own portfolio company running an AI-driven digital trading platform for pallets and load carriers across 17 countries - included as a comparable emerging logistics-marketplace peer for benchmark valuation of the FIVE Investments portfolio.
Regional players
- Emons Spedition: Emons is a family-owned German Mittelstand speditor with trucking, multimodal, and contract logistics across Germany and Europe - directly comparable regional German competitor to RECHT Logistik Gruppe's trucking and intermodal network.
Others
- Garbe Industrial Real Estate: Garbe is one of Germany's largest logistics and industrial real estate developers - directly comparable as an adjacent developer/owner of DGNB-grade logistics assets relevant to benchmarking ThielemannGroup's FIVE Investmentgesellschaft project pipeline.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks7 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
ThielemannGroup social profiles
Digital presenceThielemannGroup compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
ThielemannGroup financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
ThielemannGroup leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
ThielemannGroup subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries10 records
ThielemannGroup funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
ThielemannGroup M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about ThielemannGroup
What does ThielemannGroup do?
ThielemannGroup is a German holding company that bundles end-to-end logistics services, logistics real estate development, and investments in innovative logistics startups. The group operates contract logistics, freight forwarding (road and overseas), intermodal rail transport, and develops sustainable logistics properties across Germany through subsidiaries including RECHT Logistik Gruppe, Overseas Logistic Services (formerly), BOXX Intermodal Logistics, and FIVE Investments.
Is ThielemannGroup a public or private company?
ThielemannGroup is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was ThielemannGroup founded?
ThielemannGroup was founded in 2022. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is ThielemannGroup based?
ThielemannGroup is headquartered in Mönchengladbach, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does ThielemannGroup make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Spedition und Logistik (RECHT Logistik Gruppe) is the primary driver. The others are overseas Logistics (OLS), project Development and Real Estate and startup Investments via FIVE Investments.
Who are ThielemannGroup's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Dachser, FIEGE Logistik, Hellmann Worldwide Logistics and Rhenus Group. Broad incumbents are DSV A/S, Kuehne+Nagel and DB Schenker. Pacurion is listed as an emerging player. Emons Spedition is listed as a regional player. Garbe Industrial Real Estate is listed as an others.
Does ThielemannGroup have an API?
No public API is recorded for ThielemannGroup.
What industry is ThielemannGroup in?
ThielemannGroup's product category is Logistics Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLAIANAJ, Reverse Logistics Coordination (Non-Asset-Based Returns Management), with a secondary code of TLAIAHAF, Asset Recovery, Liquidation & Secondary Market Logistics. Its NAICS code is 488510 and its SIC code is 4731.