Ansfelden, 18 November 2025. – Twenty years ago, GLS Austria became the first parcel service provider in Austria to open a ParcelShop. What started as an innovative idea has grown into a future-proof success story: today, the network comprises more than 900 locations across the country and plays a key role in ensuring stable delivery processes. As e-commerce continues to grow and ParcelBoxes gain importance as a convenient 24/7 option, ParcelShops remain the backbone of the last mile – economically reliable, efficient, and close to customers.
“Our ParcelShops are among the most important elements of our value chain,” emphasizes Christian Schöninger, Managing Director GLS Austria. “Especially in times of increasing automation, personal contact and reliable routines are more important than ever. Efficiency doesn’t come from systems alone – it’s created by people who take responsibility. That’s what has made our network successful for two decades.”
From pioneering project to full-service network
On 13 June 2005, GLS Austria opened its first ParcelShop in British Style, a fashion store in Vienna. Today, the network extends from the Bregenzerwald to Lake Neusiedl, with more than 900 locations nationwide. What began as a simple drop-off point for EU shipments has evolved into an integral part of the last mile. With the expansion of services to include parcel pick-up and returns, ParcelShops have become a key interface connecting senders, recipients, and the GLS delivery network. A further boost came with GLS-ONE: the online platform allows customers to create shipping labels conveniently from home and hand in parcels directly at the ParcelShop – not only for private senders but also for companies with occasional shipping needs that value flexibility and no binding contracts.
Economically stable, logistically essential
Few industries are changing as rapidly as logistics, with digitalisation reshaping processes, speed, and customer expectations. “Our ParcelShops are anything but redundant – quite the opposite,” highlights Schöninger. “The more digital processes and shipping solutions become, the greater the need for reliable physical contact points.” ParcelShops are also a clear operational advantage: each location consolidates shipments, shortens delivery routes, and reduces second delivery attempts – all of which improve cost efficiency and transit times, benefitting overall B2B delivery quality.
20 years of trust and partnership
Many of the around 900 partner businesses have been working with GLS for years, contributing to the company’s steady growth. “Without the people in our ParcelShops, this success story wouldn’t exist,” Schöninger points out. “They represent reliability, service, and proximity – values that have defined GLS for 20 years and will continue to guide us into the future.”
To mark the anniversary, GLS Austria honours selected ParcelShops for their exceptional commitment and long-standing partnership.
Facts & Figures
- More than 900 ParcelShops and 1,200 ParcelBoxes across Austria
- Around 350,000 shipments per year, of which
- Over 60% are prepared digitally via GLS-ONE
- Over 30% are destined for EU countries
- 7.5% of all parcels are delivered directly via ParcelShop
Partner voices
“The GLS ParcelShop has long become an integral part of our business. We see the additional customer traffic every day.”
Michael Baumgartner, Managing Director, British Style
First GLS Austria ParcelShop partner
“Many customers come in because of a parcel – and stay because they want to browse or have a chat. That’s local service at its best.”
Luise Nutz, Owner, Luise‘s Gift World
ParcelShop Partner since 2005
“You can tell that GLS values its partners. Processes are professional, communication works smoothly, and that makes the collaboration sustainable and attractive.”
Gabriele Stranka, Owner, Fashiondreams
ParcelShop Partner since 2017
About GLS Austria
GLS Austria is a subsidiary of GLS, General Logistics Systems B.V., headquartered in Amsterdam. The GLS Group is one of the largest independent parcel service providers in Europe, with a strong local presence. In addition, the company operates subsidiaries in Canada and on the U.S. West Coast. With over 35 years of experience, GLS runs proactive network management, connecting markets flexibly and efficiently. In the 2024/25 fiscal year, the GLS Group generated record revenues of 5.9 billion euros, delivering around 926 million parcels across all markets.
Web:
https://gls-group.eu/AT/de/home/
Press contact:
GLS Austria
Melanie Klausriegler
Supervisor Marketing & Communications
Traunuferstraße 110
4052 Ansfelden
T +43 664 808 64 1113
E:
melanie.klausriegler@gls-austria.com
Kommunikation im Zentrum
Christina Thiele
Geschäftsführerin
Landstraße 57/2/3
4020 Linz
T: +43 660 777 666 5
E:
christina@kommunikation-im-zentrum.at