Location network continues to expand – Hermes Fulfilment takes over bonprix returns operations in Łódź, Poland

Feb 28, 2025 Warehousing Ireland Logistics, shipping, Storage Comments Off on Location network continues to expand – Hermes Fulfilment takes over bonprix returns operations in Łódź, Poland

---

Hermes Fulfilment Group based in Hamburg, Germany, is continuing to expand its international network. From the start of the new financial year on 1 March 2025, the Otto Group’s central logistics service provider will take over the returns processing operations of fashion brand bonprix (also part of the Otto Group) in Łódź, Poland. “This move not only strengthens our position in Poland but also accelerates our dynamic growth towards becoming one of the most successful B2C fulfilment service providers in European e-commerce,” says Kevin Kufs, CEO of Hermes Fulfilment.

bonprix has successfully operated the returns facility in Łódź for over 20 years, with an integrated small-scale warehouse for larger items. Located around 130 kilometres southwest of Poland’s capital, Warsaw, the site spans approximately 12,600 square metres and has the capacity to process up to 50 million returned items per year. At 220 inspection stations, returned goods are carefully checked for damage and signs of wear. Where necessary, stains are removed, buttons are reattached, and garments are ironed. Items deemed as good as new are manually repackaged and sent to the dispatch centre in Haldensleben, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, for reintegration into stock. This facility, which specialises in handling bonprix’s fashion range, is also operated by Hermes Fulfilment.

Up to 500 employees are involved in returns processing at the Łódź site. The change in ownership will have little impact on their day-to-day work – only the name of their employer will change. “All jobs will be retained,” confirms Kevin Kufs. “bonprix will continue to process all European returns at this site and will maintain its presence in Łódź across other business areas.” As part of the transition, Tomasz Mroz, previously Managing Director of bonprix in Łódź, has also transferred to Hermes Fulfilment. His former Joint Managing Director, Maja Biernacka, will now assume sole responsibility for bonprix’s Polish operations. By transferring its returns processing to Hermes Fulfilment, bonprix can focus entirely on its core fashion business while benefiting from a trusted logistics partner. Tomasz Mroz will continue to oversee seamless logistics operations in Łódź and will also play a key role in further developing the second returns facility in western Poland, in Iłowa. Hermes Fulfilment began handling returned goods there in 2023, with operations spanning 20,000 square metres. At full capacity, the Iłowa site can process up to 40 million returned items annually.

“We are pleased to integrate the long-standing bonprix facility into our network, further expanding our international reach and aligning operations in Łódź with our returns processing in Iłowa,” explains Kevin Kufs. The Iłowa site handles returns for OTTO, processing primarily clothing, footwear, jewellery and small electrical goods. Adjacent to this returns centre, Hermes Fulfilment has been operating a state-of-the-art, nine-hall distribution centre since 2024. Covering 268,000 square metres, this facility sets new benchmarks in logistics efficiency and technology. “By incorporating the Łódź returns operation into our network, we are strengthening the capabilities of our now three logistics centres in Poland and continuously developing them,” says Kevin Kufs.

Hermes Fulfilment’s strategic goal is to become one of the top three B2C fulfilment service providers for parcel and bulk logistics in European e-commerce by 2028. Kevin Kufs adds: “With our logistics centres in Germany and additional sites in Switzerland, Italy, the Czech Republic, and Poland, we have laid the foundation for further growth.”

---