Get to know us!

Back in 1871, we were a one-man show. Carl Heinrich Hellmann founded the company transporting goods by horse-drawn cart.

Keeping pace with technological progress, we were one of the first companies in Germany to upgrade our “vehicle fleet” with freight cars in 1925.

It was not until 1961 that we parted with our last horse to pull a cart, Lisa, which had been in additional use until then.

After over 20 years of growth and expansion in post-war Europe, the company’s shares were transferred to the fourth generation: to Jost and Klaus Hellmann, who are still active in the company today and contribute to our success.

Together with other leading freight forwarders, we founded DPD in 1976.

With the opening of the Hong Kong Branch in China 1982, we took our first step towards internationalisation. In the following years, other cities and countries were added. Today, we are represented on every continent - and are still expanding.

"Focus on people and the environment" is a frequently quoted principle at Hellmann. As early as 1991, the "Arbeitsgruppe Umweltschutz” (Environmental Protection Working Group) was founded in this context, which in 1996 led to us becoming the first logistics company ever to be certified for its environmental management system in accordance with DIN EN ISO 14001.

The faster the better: In 1993 the Night Star Express cooperation was “born” with us as a founding member. The Night Star Express delivers goods overnight on any day of the week by no later than 8 a.m. the next morning.

In 1996, there was reason to celebrate: We got 125 years old and were delighted to have enthusiastic customers and a global network of 341 branches in 134 countries then.

The focus shifted to industrial solutions in 2002: our services became more industry-specific, differentiated, for example, by Perishable, Automotive and Fashion. And moreover, contract logistics was established as an important additional product.

In 2006, we were honored to receive the “Award of excellence” by the Global Institute of Logistics. In this context, special attention was paid to the "relationship orientation", which is still one of the most important values for us today.

In 2007 our F.A.M.I.L.Y was born: our DNA stands for a code of conduct and values based on community, collaboration, entrepreneurial spirit and, last but not least, sustainability.

In 2008, our Speicher III at the Osnabrück headquarters received the "Best Office Award" from Wirtschaftswoche and Kölnmesse. The former granary was creatively redesigned and now houses many of our central departments.

It was 2013 when we revived the “Iron Silk Road” with our “Rail Solutions International”. With this we established weekly train connections between Europe and China as a fast alternative to the sea route.

Our family is growing! In 2014 we  reached the 10,000 mark in terms of employees.

In 2017 we changed our legal form to an SE (Societas Europaea) to create the structural conditions for further growth.

2021 was the time again: anniversary. We were celebrating 150 years of history and the outlook of many more.

With the “Hellmann Promise” we have defined our new corporate culture. It puts you and me – our people – at the heart of everything we do. “For the better. Together.”

Who knows what the future holds? Where will our journey take us next? Will you come with us and find out?