E-commerce company Amazon has acquired a 25% stake in France-based package delivery company, Colis Privé for an undisclosed amount, according to le Journal du Net.
The investment would be Amazon’s first in France. Amazon has been building and strengthening its logistics operations in the US and has been slowly expanding outside its home markets.
Founded in 1993, Colis Privé is a delivery company that was started to provide an alternative to the government-owned La Poste. The company presently competes with other large-scale delivery companies such as TNT, DHL, UPS and FedEx.
Amazon has been previously been accused of destroying local businesses in France, which eventually led to “anti-Amazon” legislation in France that prevented the company from offering customers free shipping on books.
Investing in a local player such as Colis Privé enables Amazon to reduce its costs and also enhance its business in France, but it will also allow it to skirt around the restrictions associated with La Poste.