Business Spotlight – Active Ants
Active Ants Business Development Manager Bianca Cruceru talks to us about their vision and determination to revolutionise e-fulfilment in the UK
Active Ants began their UK e-fulfilment journey in September 2022 when they acquired an empty building on Brackmills. With no racking, no automation and no customers, their vision and the determination to bring a new and innovative logistics model to the UK market was their driving force. We spoke to Business Development Manager, Bianca Cruceru, about their phenomenal growth and what makes them truly special.
A unique approach to logistics
Active Ants was founded in the Netherlands in 2010 by two entrepreneurs – one with a marketing and sales background and the other with a technology-driven approach. Neither one had any prior logistics experience, but their own struggles in finding the right e-fulfilment partner led them to develop a unique, highly automated solution. The business was so successful that in 2018, Active Ants became part of the Belgian postal group Bpost, which enabled our expansion across Europe, including into Germany and Belgium.
Expanding into the UK
Despite many companies changing their UK operations post-Brexit, we saw an opportunity and took a bold step by setting up our first UK operation on Brackmills in Northampton – a location that was strategically chosen for its excellent logistics infrastructure.
When we first walked into our Brackmills site, it was hard to imagine what it would become. Over the months, we watched the racking go up, the AutoStore system – our highly efficient automated storage solution – being installed and the entire operation take shape around us. By March 2023, we were ready to start shipping parcels and our very first UK customer, Stoov, joined us.
Growth and success
Since then, our growth has been nothing short of phenomenal. We started with just 12 employees, including office staff and warehouse operatives, and today we have around 125 permanent staff members working across three shifts – morning, afternoon, and night. Our customer base has grown from a single brand to nearly 70, spanning multiple industries.
The Active Ants difference
What sets Active Ants apart is the combination of advanced automation and a strong focus on people. Our AutoStore system is at the heart of our operations, using robotic storage and retrieval to optimise space and efficiency. Unlike traditional warehouses, where workers spend time walking around picking items, our system brings the items directly to them, allowing for faster, more accurate fulfilment. And for our customers, one of the best parts is that they only pay for the storage they use, making our model more cost-effective than traditional fulfilment centers.
But technology alone isn’t enough. What truly makes us special is our team. We have a fantastic synergy across departments, and our personal approach to customer service is one of the main reasons why brands choose to work with us. Our warehouse staff know our customers and their products, and we involve our entire team in the business’s growth. This approach has resulted in incredible staff retention – since we started, only two people have left, both for personal reasons.
Building a strong community
We also believe in fostering a strong community spirit. We regularly organise team-building activities, such as summer barbecues and Christmas dinners, and support local charities like the Hope Centre by collecting and donating essential goods. Our goal is to create an environment where people enjoy coming to work and feel part of something bigger.
Looking ahead
Looking ahead, our growth shows no signs of slowing. We continue to expand our customer base and are constantly adapting to the evolving needs of e-commerce. Northampton has proven to be the perfect home for our UK operations, and we are excited for what the future holds as we continue to innovate and redefine fulfilment logistics.
Active Ants started as an idea – a different way of doing things. Today, standing in our busy, fully operational warehouse, I can confidently say that our vision has become a reality.
