Has Europe fulfilled its promise to UK third‐party logistics provision?

Examines the involvement of UK logistics, service providers (LSPs) within Continental Europe markets and considers the strategies they have used for European operations together with their favoured expansion routes which have been following piggyback opportunities, acquiring local firms, joint venture arrangements and encouraging organic growth. Considers eight case studies of leading UK‐based LSPs involved in Continental Europe. Their European expansion strategies are examined in terms of their performance, their organisational development structures (multidomestic, Eurolinkers or pan‐European), their organisation of finance, marketing and information technology control as well as the influence of management culture. Finds that expansion in Europe has proved demanding for UK LSPs and that, despite the early optimism, the Single European Market has yet to fulfil its initial promise. Major UK LSPs are obliged to operate across European borders to service multinational customers but this continues to pose challenges.