Kuehne + Nagel and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) announced the signing of an end-to-end global logistics partnership until 2021 that is expected to see Kuehne + Nagel run the core business of transporting products from the raw materials supplier to trade customers for the global healthcare company.

The contract is set to officially mark the commencement of a relationship which brings logistics alignment between the two companies, with Kuehne + Nagel providing skills, expertise and strategic capability across GSK’s global supply chain operations.

“We are very excited about this long-term collaboration with GSK,” said Detlef Trefzger, CEO of Kuehne + Nagel International AG. “Our focus is to leverage existing experience and industry-specific solutions serving the pharmaceutical and consumer sector which will deliver incremental benefits to GSK. Our integrated logistics approach, comprising air, sea, overland services and logistics control centers in four regional hubs will enable GSK’s global supply chains to move to the next level of performance.”

Kuehne + Nagel was selected as a partner due to the company’s existing track record with GSK, strength in the industry, maturity of Integrated Logistics provision and significant investment strategy in pharmaceuticals and consumer products logistics.