An alliance between xpedx and Geodis should allow the two to offer their menu of logistics services throughout the United States and worldwide. Among those services are air, sea and multi-modal transport; asset and inventory management; reverse logistics; demand planning and web-based custom reporting.

"Thanks to the Geodis network, this alliance allows xpedx to serve its customers wherever they have operations or local logistics needs," says Jeff Neely, director of sales for xpedx Supply Chain Services. "We will provide Geodis comprehensive geographical coverage and extended logistics service for their customers throughout the U.S. They, in turn, will provide the same for our customers with operations outside the U.S."

Jean Louis Demeulenaere, executive vice president of strategy and development for Geodis, says the partnership complements his company's acquisition of TNT Freight Management (re-branded as Geodis Wilson), which forwards freight in the U.S. "The Geodis Group is now able to extend its global offer all over the U.S.," says Demeulenaere. "As well, we are happy to extend our relationship with xpedx, giving them the opportunity to propose to their clients an offer."

xpedx is a business of International Paper and says it is one of the largest business-to-business distributors in North America. xpedx Supply Chain Services offers end-to-end logistics and distribution services, including asset management, business integration, order management, warehousing and distribution, transportation management, reverse logistics, ocean freight services, customs brokerage, supplier relationship management and performance measurement. It provides a custom mix of delivery type-mode and carrier-along with inventory management expertise, real-time reporting tools, VMI and customization/sub-assembly.

Geodis reportedly ranks among the top four companies in the logistics field in Europe. Services offered include transportation and distribution, contract logistics, air and sea freight forwarding, trucking and reverse logistics. Its network covers 120 countries.

Visit www.xpedx.com/scs and www.geodis.com