Claes Retail Group, owner of JBC, CKS, and Mayerline, has announced full outsourcing of its logistics operations to Paxon—a newly unified brand under logistics group Bnode—consolidating activities into a new distribution centre in Beringen. The move follows strategic review revealing unsustainable investment requirements for in-house expansion at the Houthalen site. Approximately fifty logistics employees will transfer automatically under Belgium’s Collective Labour Agreement No. 32bis. Implementation begins in autumn 2026, with full integration targeted for spring 2027. Paxon will deliver a tailor-made end-to-end logistics solution across the group’s brands, enabling focus on core retail operations while maintaining regional presence in Limburg.
Claes Retail Group, the parent company of brands such as JBC, CKS and Mayerline, announced today that it will centralise its logistics operations with Paxon, part of the logistics group Bnode. These activities will be consolidated in a new distribution centre in Beringen. CRG logistics employees will have the opportunity to transfer as part of the transition.
Strategic Rationale for Outsourcing
The decision by Claes Retail Group follows an in-depth analysis of the existing logistics structure and the company’s future plans. Further expansion of in-house logistics operations would require significant investments from Claes Retail Group, both in infrastructure and expertise. “The rapidly changing retail landscape and its many challenges also require expertise and speed in logistics. These are two crucial elements that are currently not achievable at the Houthalen site,” CEO Bart Claes of Claes Retail Group says.
Therefore, the company will fully outsource its logistics to Active Ants, becoming Paxon, the brand under which Bnode will soon consolidate all of its logistics activities. Paxon specializes in end-to-end logistics solutions for complex, high-value supply chains, helping brands optimize their logistics operations and distribution.
Maximising job retention
Preserving employment is a key priority. Bart Claes explains.
We are offering our approximately fifty logistics employees the opportunity to transfer to Paxon as well. In line with Collective Labour Agreement No. 32bis, this transfer will take place automatically, ensuring the continuity of their employment. This also allows us to retain as much knowledge and experience as possible. We deliberately chose a solution that allows them to continue developing within a specialised logistics environment… By choosing a new distribution centre in Beringen, Claes Retail Group also remains firmly anchored in Limburg.”
End-to-end solution through Paxon
Under the new partnership, the logistics flows of the various brands such as JBC, CKS and Mayerline will be consolidated into one centralised model. A new distribution centre in Beringen will be operated by Paxon.
With this development, we are taking our existing partnership with Claes Retail Group to the next level… They will benefit from a tailor-made end-to-end solution for their entire supply chain. We will manage the full range of logistics processes for their brands, allowing them to further strengthen their core business. This will be done in close collaboration. It’s a strong example of how all our logistics services, brought together under the Paxon brand, complement each other.
says Rainer Kiefer, CEO 3PL Europe & Staci Americas at Bnode.
The transition to the new logistics structure will be implemented in phases to ensure operational continuity. The first implementation phases will start in autumn 2026, with full integration planned by spring 2027. With this step, Claes Retail Group confirms its ambition to operate in a flexible, sustainable and long-term-oriented way within a constantly evolving retail landscape.
Source: logisticsbusiness.com
Compiled from international media by the SCI.AI editorial team.
