Stronger together: The three Minden-based companies Hölkemeier, Karl Möller, and ESM Ertl work together like a well-oiled machine.
Amid fully automated high-bay warehouses, autonomously moving forklifts, and precisely controlled refrigerated transports, a complex logistical clockwork ticks to the minute every day in Minden. Here, in the heart of East Westphalia, the L.I.T. Group, through its subsidiary Hölkemeier Spedition GmbH and the affiliated companies ESM Ertl Systemlogistik Minden GmbH & Co. KG and Karl Möller Internationale Speditions-GmbH & Co. KG, demonstrates how modern consumer goods logistics works – seamlessly interconnected, proactively managed, and with full responsibility for both people and goods.
Since January 2024, ESM has been part of the Hölkemeier family, fully integrated into the strong network of the L.I.T. Group. With its Minden site, ESM specializes in the logistics of particularly sensitive consumer goods. Whether pet food, chocolate, chewing gum, or other food items, the demands on storage and transport are high – manufacturers’ quality standards must be met with absolute precision. Our site is prepared for this diversity,« says Andreas Voigt, Managing Director of ESM Ertl Systemlogistik Minden GmbH & Co. KG. »With our automated processes and state-of-the-art warehouse technologies, we are able to respond quickly to seasonal peaks and handle different product categories with precision.
Currently, the spacious facilities store more than 46,000 pallets of pet and indulgence products from an international brand portfolio, 19,000 pallets of seasonally influenced confectionery, and around 27,000 pallets of pet food from a manufacturer whose plant is advantageously located directly opposite. Daily, several thousand pallets of these items are moved in and out, tailored precisely to the requirements of each product group.
The ESM warehouse is a prime example of modern intralogistics: automated high-bay storage, autonomous narrow-aisle systems, drive-in satellite storage, and conveyor technology, all supported by skilled professionals. Despite the high level of automation, people remain at the center: responsibility and expertise are crucial when handling sensitive consumer goods. More than 130 employees work daily in the approximately 41,500-squaremeter facility, which has already been expanded twice.
Particularly impressive is the direct connection to the neighboring pet food manufacturer via a fully automated bridge. »This link allows us to achieve just-in-time disposal from production in a way that is unparalleled,« says Voigt. Finished goods thus reach storage without any intermediate stops – a prime example of efficient and sustainable site logistics.
For temperature-sensitive transports, Karl Möller Internationale Speditions- GmbH & Co. KG operates around 50 trucks, regularly serving ESM. Their vehicles are designed for highly specialized refrigerated transport: double-deck systems allow for 33 to 66 pallets per trip, and temperatures can be flexibly controlled from -40 °C to +40 °C. »Especially for strongly odorous or taste-sensitive products, strict rules apply,« explains Jonas Wulf, Managing Director of Karl Möller Spedition. »No other food products may be loaded when certain items are on board.« Möller carries out around 20 collections per day on behalf of ESM – currently focusing on the Ruhr area, with plans to expand nationwide to the retail food sector in the medium term.
The consumer goods logistics of the L.I.T. Group has been strengthened by the acquisitions of ESM Systemlogistik and Möller Spedition, adding two strong partners to the portfolio. As the parent company, L.I.T. Group, together with Hölkemeier, was not venturing into unknown territory. Hölkemeier operates a bonded warehouse in the Minden industrial port, where, in addition to coffee from a renowned Hamburg roastery, non-food consumer goods from the same company are stored, packaged, and transported.
For transport services, Hölkemeier is also supported by L.I.T. Speditions GmbH, demonstrating how closely the companies are networked and how operational synergies are leveraged across the group. Furthermore, Hölkemeier and ESM Systemlogistik offer a wide range of value added services, including display construction for promotional items, tailored packaging solutions, and logistics consulting, for example for major confectionery and pet food brands. »Our goal is to offer the entire logistics chain comprehensively, including temperature-controlled transports, different storage systems and requirements, and additional services such as customs handling or display construction for the point of sale. At our Minden site, we are now able to represent this very effectively,« says Lars Hölkemeier, Managing Director of Hölkemeier Spedition.
As the ESM warehouse in Minden reached its capacity limits, a portion of the FMCG goods was relocated to the newly opened RegioPort, which became operational in the third quarter of 2025. In the largest self-climatized logistics hall in Ostwestphalia, constructed by Hölkemeier, ESM serves as the primary tenant, ensuring seamless continuity of operations. »We store items there such as snacks, chewing gum, and peanuts – the latter will even be delivered directly by ship via the Mittelland Canal in the future,« says Lars Hölkemeier, highlighting the advantages of the site’s intermodal capabilities, which connect the canal and rail lines alongside traditional truck traffic.
The climate-controlled area covers approximately 22,000 square meters, while Hölkemeier Spedition uses the remaining 18,000 square meters for the storage of products from a globally leading sanitary manufacturer, enabling flexible allocation of space according to seasonal demand. Between climate-controlled storage halls, fully automated transfer bridges, and individually temperature-controlled trucks, ESM Systemlogistik and Hölkemeier demonstrate that consumer goods logistics is no longer just about pallets and storage space. It is a precise orchestration of technology, people, and strategy, where every detail from timing to handling protocols is optimized for efficiency and quality. What happens daily in Minden offers a glimpse into the future of the comprehensive L.I.T. supply chain: connected, scalable, responsible – and ready for the next level.
© 2025 L.I.T. AG · Otto-Hahn-Straße 18 · 26919 Brake Data protection | Imprint | Gender regulation | Manage consent | Complaint form | AGB
© 2025 L.I.T. AG · Otto-Hahn-Straße 18 · 26919 Brake
Data protection | Imprint | Gender regulation | Manage consent | Complaint form | AGB
© 2025 L.I.T. AG
Otto-Hahn-Straße 18 · 26919 Brake
Data protection | Imprint
Gender regulation | Manage consent
Complaint form | AGB
