Fashion Brands Have Expanded Logistics Outsourcing
Puma and Columbia Sportswear have signed new agreements to offload distribution management to third-party providers.
Updated on Oct. 8, 2026 in Transportation
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Puma has expanded its logistics partnership with Maersk, tasking the firm with managing three automated distribution centers. Meanwhile, Columbia Sportswear has entered a 10-year logistics deal with GXO to handle its European operations.
Why it matters
Fashion companies are increasingly looking to outsource complex distribution needs to avoid building large internal logistics organizations. This shift allows firms to improve asset utilization and respond more effectively to fluctuating consumer demand.
Puma's three distribution centers span 2.3 million square feet, while GXO manages 60 warehouses across France. Additionally, the new Maersk-managed facility in Torrance is expected to handle 20 million units of annual throughput.
The players
Puma
Puma is a global multinational corporation that designs and manufactures athletic and casual footwear, apparel, and accessories.
Maersk
Maersk is an integrated container logistics company working to connect and simplify supply chains across the globe.
Columbia Sportswear
Columbia Sportswear is a company that manufactures and distributes outerwear, sportswear, and footwear for outdoor activities.
GXO
GXO is a global contract logistics provider that specializes in supply chain management and automated warehousing solutions.
The details
Puma integrated AutoStore robotics into its centers located in California, Arizona, and Indiana to automate inventory retrieval. Columbia Sportswear, which utilizes GXO services for 1.6 million annual units in the U.K. and Ireland, has focused its transition on service continuity and employee integration.
Timeline
September 2026: Puma expanded its logistics partnership with Maersk.
September 2026: GXO deployed robotics at a facility in the Netherlands.
2027: Maersk is scheduled to begin multi-client operations at the Torrance facility.
Market Landscape
The move toward outsourced logistics follows the broader trend of the rise of third-party logistics (3PL) outsourcing. This shift allows fashion retailers to outsource their supply chain infrastructure to specialized providers like GXO and Maersk rather than managing massive internal operations.
The transition to automated, outsourced distribution centers aims to ensure faster and more reliable delivery of goods to customers. While these changes happen behind the scenes, shoppers can expect better service continuity and product availability as companies optimize their fulfillment networks.
The takeaway
Outsourcing logistics allows fashion companies to leverage advanced robotics without making the heavy capital investments required to build private networks. Implementing these automated solutions helps brands remain agile as consumer demand patterns shift globally.
What happens next
Maersk will initiate multi-client operations at the Torrance, California facility in 2027.
Further reading
Learn more about global supply chain shifts in the Transportation section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WWD.
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