Six mail competitors form joint venture to challenge Deutsche Post

Six competitors of Deutsche Post have formed a joint venture named Deutschlandversand GmbH & Co. KG to challenge the market leader's dominance in the German mail sector. Based in Hannover, the new company aims to provide a unified service and single point of contact for large national clients, such as banks, insurance companies, and government agencies.

The shareholders of the venture include Citipost, Südwest-Mail, Schwäbischer Verlag, Postholding Süd, Marketing Service Magdeburg, and Pin AG. By pooling their resources, these regional providers intend to create a shared delivery network and unified IT structures to increase efficiency amidst declining mail volumes in the digital age.

As part of its formation, Deutschlandversand is acquiring the insolvent mail service provider DVS (Deutscher Versand Service) and its subsidiary Xendis. Managing Director Jörg Kosel described the move as a “historical step for the German mail market,” noting that the consolidation will allow regional services to remain independent while benefiting from a collective national network.