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FLEX. Logistics
We provide logistics services to online retailers in Europe: Amazon FBA prep, processing FBA removal orders, forwarding to Fulfillment Centers - both FBA and Vendor shipments.
In the rapidly evolving world of e‑commerce, food & beverage brands face unique challenges. With perishable products, high consumer expectations for freshness and speed, and complex cross‑border logistics in Europe, the demands are greater than ever. That’s where FLEX Logistics (also referred to as “FLEX”) steps in — offering fresh, fast and flexible fulfillment solutions designed specifically for food & beverage (F&B) brands operating across Europe.
In this article we’ll explore:
Why food & beverage e‑commerce and fulfillment in Europe is a booming opportunity.
The key challenges F&B brands must overcome in fulfillment.
How FLEX addresses those challenges with tailored logistics solutions.
Real‑world numbers and trends to illustrate the scale and urgency.
Best practices for F&B brands to leverage fulfillment to grow across Europe.
Why partnering with FLEX makes strategic sense.
The European F&B e‑commerce opportunity
The online sale of food & beverages (fresh groceries, packaged foods, non‑alcoholic beverages, etc.) has seen a dramatic surge in Europe in recent years, creating a major opportunity for brands that can get fulfillment right.
Growth in food & beverage online sales
A study conducted by Deloitte and Google found that in ten key European markets, online grocery/e‑commerce food retail is projected to grow up to 97% between 2025 and 2030.
The overall e‑commerce fulfillment services market in Europe is already huge — in 2024 the market generated approximately USD 28,877.8 million.
The Europe e‑commerce warehouse market anticipates a strong CAGR through 2030, and notably grocery & FMCG end‑users are expected to post the fastest growth (9.8% CAGR).
According to a 2023 e‑commerce guide for food & beverage brands, just over 50% of the UK population and ~25% of French households purchased food & non‑alcoholic drinks online in 2023.
Why the timing is right
Several factors converge to make this the moment for F&B brands to optimise their fulfillment strategy:
Consumer behaviour: More households are willing to purchase fresh and packaged food online than ever before. For example, by 2021 one report noted that 35% of regular European e‑shoppers had ordered fresh food & beverages online.
Rising expectations: Consumers expect faster delivery, reliable freshness, and flexibility (e.g., subscription boxes, direct‑to‑consumer packages).
Cross‑border potential: With fulfilment networks covering multiple European countries, brands can expand faster while maintaining quality.
Competitive differentiation: Brands that solve the “freshness + speed + flexibility” equation will stand out in a crowded market.
For any F&B brand that wants to scale across Europe, the question isn’t whether to optimise fulfillment — it’s how fast and how well.
Why Food & Beverage Fulfillment Is a Whole Different Ballgame
Fulfillment for F&B is far more complex than standard retail e‑commerce. Here are the hurdles brands must navigate — and where many 3PLs often stumble.
Preserving Freshness: Quality Is Everything
Handling perishable items requires airtight control over temperature, storage, and transit times. A lapse here can damage your brand’s reputation and violate regulations.
Speed Matters: Meeting Customer Delivery Expectations
Online food & beverage shoppers expect rapid delivery — sometimes same‑day or next‑day. Even small delays can negatively impact conversion rates and customer satisfaction.
Flexibility on Demand: Adapting to Orders of All Shapes and Sizes
F&B brands face:
Subscription orders and recurring deliveries
Seasonal spikes and promotional surges
Diverse SKUs from single units to bulk shipments
A fulfillment system must scale up or down and handle all order types seamlessly.
Crossing Borders: Navigating Europe’s Logistics Maze
Selling across Europe comes with varied regulations, labeling rules, VAT structures, and delivery expectations. Missteps can be costly, but smart fulfillment turns complexity into opportunity.
Keeping Costs in Check: Efficiency Is Key
Margins for F&B products are often tight. Warehousing, picking, packing, shipping, and returns must all be optimized to stay competitive without compromising quality.
Eco‑Friendly Packaging: Balancing Freshness and Sustainability
Modern consumers care about sustainability. Packaging must protect freshness while meeting environmental standards, and logistics partners should actively support eco-conscious operations.
How FLEX Logistics Delivers Fresh, Fast & Flexible Fulfillment
At FLEX, we tailor fulfillment services specifically for food & beverage brands that want to scale across Europe. Here’s how our offering addresses the challenges and turns them into opportunities.
Fresh – Maintaining Product Integrity
Temperature controlled warehousing: FLEX offers cold‑chain enabled storage and handling to ensure perishables arrive fresh, maintaining product integrity from warehouse to doorstep.
Traceability and food‑safety compliance: With full visibility and monitoring, FLEX helps brands satisfy EU food regulatory requirements while maintaining high quality standards.
Quality‑first processes: From inbound inspection to packaging, we apply rigorous checks and systems to minimise spoilage and ensure customer satisfaction.
Fast – Speed Across Europe
Regional fulfilment hubs: FLEX’s network is strategically positioned across Europe, enabling shorter transit times and efficient delivery options.
Optimised picking & shipping workflows: Thanks to automation, smart slotting and prioritized handling for F&B SKUs, we reduce time from order placement to dispatch.
Last‑mile flexibility: Options such as same‑day, next‑day or scheduled deliveries help brands meet consumer expectations and reduce cart abandonment linked to slow shipping.
Cross‑border execution: With expertise in EU‑wide delivery, FLEX removes friction for brands wanting to sell beyond their domestic market.
Flexible – Scaling & adapting with your brand
Scalable capacity: Whether you are a niche artisan food brand making hundreds of monthly orders or a large beverage label shipping thousands daily, FLEX accommodates volume fluctuations.
Multi‑channel fulfilment: We support DTC (direct‑to‑consumer), B2B (retailers, horeca), subscription models, bundles and more.
Varied SKUs and packaging options: From single bars and bottles to gift boxes and subscription kits, FLEX handles diversity.
Transparent pricing and analytics: Brands receive insights into warehouse performance, shipping metrics, return rates and cost drivers, enabling smarter business decisions.
Sustainability alignment: Packaging optimisation, eco‑friendly carriers, and waste‑reduction processes ensure fulfilment supports your brand’s values.
Real‑World Numbers & Trends That Support the Need for Specialized Fulfillment
Here are some important statistics and trends that illustrate why food & beverage brands that get fulfillment right are positioned to win.
In Europe, the e‑commerce fulfilment services market revenue in 2024 was approximately USD 28.9 billion, with projected growth to USD 65.1 billion by 2030 at a CAGR of 14.7%.
A recent guide for F&B brands in Europe reports that in the UK just over 50% of the population purchased food/non‑alcoholic drinks online in 2023; in France ~25%.
The e‑commerce warehouse market in Europe forecasts the grocery & FMCG segment (which includes food & beverages) to post the fastest growth (9.8% CAGR) between 2025‑2030.
A 2021 report noted that fresh food & beverages online orders among European e‑shoppers reached ~35%.
The online grocery & F&B e‑commerce channel in Europe is projected to grow by up to 97% between 2025‑2030 in selected markets.
These numbers underscore how many brands are rushing to establish and scale their online food & beverage channels — and why having a fulfilment partner who understands the unique demands is not optional, but strategic.
Scaling Smart: Fulfillment Insights for European F&B Brands
Expanding across Europe requires more than just shipping products — it demands strategic fulfillment. Here’s how food & beverage brands can optimise their logistics with FLEX.
Partner Wisely: Choose a Fulfillment Ally, Not Just a Provider
Look for a partner offering:
Temperature‑controlled storage
Multi-country European reach
Proven expertise in F&B SKUs and packaging
Transparent SLAs for speed and accuracy
Seamless tech integration for real-time analytics
Position Inventory Strategically: Closer Is Faster
Placing stock near key markets like Germany, France, Benelux, and Poland reduces delivery time and shipping costs while improving customer satisfaction.
Prioritize the Essentials: Segment & Accelerate High‑Demand SKUs
Keep perishable and high-volume SKUs in fast-picking zones. Lower-demand or non-perishable items can be stored cost-effectively — reducing waste and maximising margins.
Make Delivery Promises Crystal Clear
Define next-day, same-day, or scheduled delivery options. Transparent fulfillment commitments enhance customer trust and boost conversion rates.
Simplify Cross-Border Complexity
Let your fulfillment partner handle:
VAT and regulatory compliance
Local carriers and customs
Country-specific packaging, language, and returns
This ensures smooth operations and avoids hidden costs or delays.
Measure, Refine, Repeat: Data-Driven Fulfillment
Track order accuracy, delivery times, spoilage, and shipping costs. Use insights to optimise workflows, carrier routes, and inventory placement continuously.
Green Logistics: Fulfillment with Sustainability in Mind
Adopt eco-conscious practices:
Eco-friendly packaging and minimal materials
Consolidated shipments
Low-emission carrier options
A fulfillment partner supporting sustainability strengthens your brand while reducing environmental impact.
Scaling Freshness Across Europe: Why FLEX Is the Partner You Need
Here’s why FLEX stands out for food & beverage brands looking to scale across Europe:
Tailored for F&B: Our infrastructure is designed to handle the particular needs of food & beverage brands — from cold‑chain to variable packaging to omni‑channel fulfilment.
Europe‑wide reach: Whether you’re launching in Germany, France, Poland, Benelux or beyond, FLEX provides the warehouse and delivery footprint to make it real.
Speed & reliability: We prioritise fulfilment speed without sacrificing accuracy or quality, helping you meet consumer expectations and grow repeat business.
Flexible scalability: From artisanal producers with a few hundred orders a month to national beverage brands shipping thousands daily, FLEX scales with you.
Transparent insights: We provide analytics and dashboard access so you can track performance, cost drivers and make data‑driven decisions.
Sustainability‑minded: We align with modern brand values around sustainable packaging, eco‑friendly carriers and efficient logistics operations.
End‑to‑end services: From inbound receipt, storage, picking/packing, shipping and returns, we cover the full chain so you can focus on brand, product and growth.
The Future of Food & Beverage Fulfillment Starts Here
For food & beverage brands aiming to scale across Europe, the fulfillment equation is clear: freshness, speed, and flexibility are non‑negotiable. In a market growing at double-digit rates and with consumers expecting rapid, reliable deliveries, having a strategic logistics partner is critical.
FLEX Logistics offers the infrastructure, technology, and expertise to turn these challenges into opportunities. From temperature‑controlled storage and multi-country reach to fast, accurate deliveries and sustainability-focused operations, FLEX empowers brands to focus on what they do best — creating exceptional products and building loyal customers.
With FLEX as your fulfillment partner, every order becomes an opportunity to delight your customers, strengthen your brand, and unlock your full European growth potential. The future of food & beverage fulfillment isn’t just coming — it starts here, today, with FLEX.
