SAMSKIP LOGISTICS

About SAMSKIP LOGISTICS

The story of Samskip begins in Iceland in 1990, born from the merger of two local shipping companies. This new entity had its roots in the Icelandic retail co-operative movement, operating initially under the trading house Samband. A pivotal shift occurred in the early 1990s when the co-operative collapsed, leading to a restructuring. In 1993, Ólafur Ólafsson was brought in to guide the company, and by 1994, he had acquired a major stake, setting the stage for significant growth. The company’s playbook focused heavily on expansion through strategic acquisitions. A major move came in 2005 with the acquisition of Geest North Sea Line, which greatly expanded its short-sea operations in Europe. This was followed by a series of further purchases, including other logistics and cold storage businesses, solidifying its multimodal capabilities across land, sea, and rail. This strategy transformed Samskip from its North Atlantic origins into one of Europe's major transport companies, moving its headquarters to Rotterdam, Netherlands, to be at the center of European logistics. By growing both organically and through these key acquisitions, Samskip built a comprehensive network spanning over 30 countries. The company's journey showcases a deliberate evolution from a regional shipping line into a pan-European logistics provider, driven by a consistent strategy of acquiring capabilities to enhance its service offerings.