Qatar Airways Cargo transports 42 million red roses for Valentine’s Day
Qatar Airways Cargo has transported 2,800 tonnes of flowers, equivalent to 42 million freshly cut red roses, from Kenya and South America in time for Valentine’s Day. From Nairobi, the airline moved nearly 1,600 tonnes of red roses on scheduled and charter flights. Additionally, from Bogotá and Quito, it transported approximately 1,200 tonnes to key markets such as Amsterdam, the Middle East, Asia and Australia. To meet the surge in demand during this season, Qatar Airways Cargo operated nine additional charter flights with Boeing 777 aircraft from Nairobi and ten from Quito in the two weeks leading up to Valentine’s Day.
Dils acts as advisor in the sale of Vigasio logistics park
Dils acted as an advisor in the transaction completed by BNP Paribas REIM on behalf of institutional investors assisted by J.P. Morgan Asset Management, concerning the second development phase of the Vigasio logistics park in Verona. The deal marks the completion of the park’s development, which covers a total area of approximately 94,000 square metres of GLA, divided into two units, "C1" and "C2". Overall, the entire logistics hub extends over about 180,000 square metres. The two assets, completed in the fourth quarter of 2024, are in the process of obtaining the ESG "LEED Gold" certification. Located in the Verona submarket, the park benefits from efficient infrastructure for goods distribution, strengthening the area’s role as a key national and European logistics hub.
SGS acquires Stella Operazioni Doganali
Swiss group SGS, active in inspection, verification, testing and certification, has acquired Bologna-based Stella Operazioni Doganali, a company specialising in customs representation and consultancy with over forty years of experience. The transaction was finalised on 15 January 2025 through SGS Italia, the Italian subsidiary. Stella Operazioni Doganali was assisted by Proactiva Strategy M&A (Walter Pugliese and Giovanni Migliorati), Proactiva Corporate & Tax (Luca Bisignani, Simone Sangiorgi and Graziella Barone) and law firm FVF (Alfredo Frangini and Sofia Bignami). SGS was supported by Pavia e Ansaldo (Alberto Bianco, Martina Villa, Elena Giliberti and Francesco Vitella), Spada Partners (Guido Sazbon, Cristiano Proserpio, Francesco Podagrosi, Roberto Stagnaro, Martina Acciaro and Tommaso Bartolucci) and Gusmitta & Associati (Cristina Gusmitta and Silvana Lungo).
New joint venture for automotive logistics in Saudi Arabia
Mosolf Port Logistics & Services (MPLS), part of the Mosolf Group, has partnered with Bahri, the Saudi national shipping company, and Tasaru Mobility Investments, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF), to establish a joint venture for automotive logistics in Saudi Arabia, offering a comprehensive supply chain from port to final delivery to dealers or customers. This move strengthens the Mosolf Group’s position in the global automotive logistics sector by expanding port activities and introducing cutting-edge logistics services in the country. Manufacturers and importers in the region will gain access to a full-service package, including port handling, technical services, storage and final delivery, covering cars, light commercial vehicles and trucks. To support efficient regional distribution, a specialised fleet of road transporters will be developed.
Arvato expands collaboration with the Douglas Group
Arvato, a company specialising in supply chain management and e-commerce, is strengthening its collaboration with the Douglas Group, marking 25 years of partnership. In addition to the DACH region, Arvato will now manage supply for Douglas customers and stores in Italy, Poland, Central and Eastern Europe, and the Baltic states. Two new logistics hubs will play a central role in these services: a 46,000-square-metre distribution centre in Mszczonów, near Warsaw, and an 18,000-square-metre site in Bologna, dedicated to the entire Italian region. Both will be highly automated to support the Douglas Group’s omnichannel strategy. The Mszczonów facility, in particular, aims to exceed ESG standards, achieving BREEAM’s highest "Outstanding" certification. Operations are set to begin in the second half of 2025. These warehouses will serve as omnichannel hubs with shared inventory for B2C and B2B orders, improving product availability and reducing shipping times.
TotalEnergies and DAF Trucks form electric truck alliance
TotalEnergies and DAF Trucks have announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding to develop zero-emission mobility solutions for road transport. This collaboration combines DAF’s expertise in truck manufacturing with TotalEnergies’ experience in sustainable mobility solutions. The agreement aims to explore opportunities for DAF customers to maximise the use of TotalEnergies’ charging network and related roaming services, accelerate the development of megawatt charging systems for ultra-fast charging of electric trucks through a pilot initiative, and offer a range of low-carbon energy solutions at DAF’s production sites to support the reduction of scope 1 and 2 CO₂ emissions.
