DHL (Plantation, Fla.) announced a new, three-year agreement with Wal-Mart Stores Inc. for air express and ground shipping throughout the United States in support of the retailer’s 4,000 stores. The new contract nearly doubles the volume and revenue DHL generated from its previous relationship with Wal-Mart, according to DHL.
The carrier will continue its exclusive specialty product repair and return delivery service for Wal-Mart and will take on responsibility for all specialty product transportation for Wal-Mart and Sam’s Clubs nationwide. Additionally, DHL will serve as one of Wal-Mart’s primary carriers for its state transportation program for all outbound shipments among the retailer’s stores, distribution centers and suppliers.
DHL will also continue to manage customized services for Wal-Mart, including its optical-product logistics program, online holiday floral distribution and express transportation from Wal-Mart’s mailroom distribution centers.
Under the new agreement, Wal-Mart will use DHL’s “Optical Village” near Columbus, Ohio, to consolidate specialty item shipments for delivery to stores and clubs. All orders for eyeglasses from Wal-Mart’s four U.S. optical labs will be transported to the Optical Village, where they will be sorted and packaged for each retail store and then shipped for next-day delivery.