Hellmann takes US branch network to 12 with three-city push

Hellmann Worldwide Logistics has opened three new US branches — in Indianapolis, the Columbus metropolitan area and the San Francisco Bay Area — pushing its American network to 12 locations and marking the latest step in its Forward2030 growth strategy.

The German forwarder, which established its US operations in 1988, is betting that industry-specific coverage across sea freight, air freight and road transportation will win share in major American manufacturing and commercial markets. Each new branch carries a defined sector focus rather than serving as a general-purpose office.

What does each branch do?

The Indianapolis operation is already up and running. It targets the automotive industry, supporting Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers with international ocean and air freight services plus domestic road transportation. That puts Hellmann directly alongside the Midwest's parts-and-assembly corridor, where supplier lead times and multimodal connections decide contract awards.

The Columbus, Ohio office serves fashion and retail customers. Central Ohio has grown into a significant distribution hub, and Hellmann is positioning the branch to capture apparel and retail flows moving through the region's warehouse network.

The third location, near San Francisco International Airport, focuses on technology-related industries: semiconductors, electronics, cloud infrastructure and renewable energy. Air freight will carry the load here. Chip and electronics cargo typically demands speed, security and temperature-controlled handling — services an airport-adjacent branch can deliver without extra drayage legs.

Together, the three branches expand Hellmann's ability to provide industry-specific logistics services across the US, the company said.

Who is driving the strategy?

"The United States plays a pivotal role in our global growth strategy," said Mario Stecher, Managing Director US at Hellmann Worldwide Logistics. Stecher added that the new locations would strengthen the company's ability to serve customers in strategically important markets.

Peter Hüwel, Regional CEO Americas, framed the expansion as part of a wider investment program. The branches support Hellmann's US Accelerator Program, which aims to develop the company's regional operations through targeted investment and industry expertise. Hüwel said the program combines the company's international network with local market knowledge to support further growth.

What does this change for shippers and competitors?

For shippers in autos, retail and tech, the practical effect is more local capacity and sector expertise from a single global forwarder. Tier suppliers around Indianapolis gain a nearby partner for ocean, air and road moves. Tech shippers near SFO get an office built around semiconductor and cloud-infrastructure logistics. Retail customers around Columbus get fashion-focused support closer to their distribution base.

For competitors, the message is clearer: Hellmann intends to grow in the US, the world's largest logistics market, rather than defend existing share. Vertical specialization — autos in Indiana, tech in California, retail in Ohio — lets a mid-sized global forwarder compete against the biggest players by depth rather than breadth alone.

The structure also matters. Twelve branches spread across the US, each with a sector mandate, gives Hellmann a template it can replicate: pick a manufacturing or commercial cluster, open a focused branch, connect it to the international network, and feed it through the Accelerator Program's investment pipeline.

The company has not disclosed headcount or financial targets for the new sites. But the pattern is established: more US branches under Forward2030, each tied to a named industry, appears likely as the program matures.