Zalando
Company History
Zalando History: Founding, Growth & Key Milestones
Founded 2008 in Berlin, Germany
When was Zalando founded?
Zalando was founded in 2008 in Berlin, Germany by Robert Gentz and David Schneider, making it 18 years old.
- Founded
- 2008
- Founding place
- Berlin, Germany
- Founders
- Robert Gentz and David Schneider
- Headquarters today
- Berlin, Germany
- Milestones documented
- 10 (2008–2026)
- Current CEO
- Robert Gentz, David Schneider
- Acquisitions
- 3
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 2008 | Zalando founded in Berlin by Robert Gentz and David Schneider. |
| 2010 | First markets outside German-speaking Europe |
| 2014 | IPO on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. |
| 2018 | Beauty Category Launched |
| 2020 | Acquired Fision |
| 2021 | Joined the DAX; Rubin Ritter stepped down as Co-CEO. |
| 2022 | Acquired Highsnobiety (majority stake) |
| 2023 | Job Cuts |
| 2025 | ABOUT YOU acquisition closed on 11 July; FY revenue reached ~$13.9 billion (€12.3 billion). |
| 2026 | Announced a buy-back of up to $339 million (€300 million); narrowed 2026 adjusted EBIT guidance to €680-720 million in August. |
- Where was Zalando founded?
- Zalando was founded in Berlin, Germany in 2008.
- Who founded Zalando?
- Zalando was founded by Robert Gentz and David Schneider.
- When did Zalando start?
- Zalando was founded in 2008.
- How old is Zalando?
- Zalando is 18 years old as of 2026.
Founding Story
Robert Gentz and David Schneider, who studied together at WHU Otto Beisheim School of Management, started Zalando in Berlin in 2008 with backing from Rocket Internet. It began as an online shoe shop modelled on the US retailer Zappos. Free delivery and generous returns helped persuade German shoppers to buy shoes without trying them on first. The company then added clothing and expanded across Europe.
Founders
Robert Gentz
Robert Gentz co-founded Zalando in Berlin in 2008 with David Schneider and has served as Co-CEO since. He led the company through its 2014 IPO, its 2021 DAX inclusion and the 2025 ABOUT YOU acquisition. Robert Gentz was born in 1983.
David Schneider
David Schneider co-founded Zalando in 2008 alongside Robert Gentz. Backed by the highly aggressive, legendary German startup incubator Rocket Internet, Schneider helped blatantly clone the American Zappos model. He focused intensely on building massive, highly complex relationships with global fashion brands, convincing them to sell their premium inventory on a completely unproven German website. David Schneider was born in 1982.
Key Milestones
Zalando founded in Berlin by Robert Gentz and David Schneider.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgFirst markets outside German-speaking Europe
Zalando launched in the Netherlands and France, its first non-German-speaking markets, and added apparel to its original shoe range.
Source: corporate.zalando.comIPO on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgJoined the DAX; Rubin Ritter stepped down as Co-CEO.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgAcquired Highsnobiety (majority stake)
Zalando acquired Highsnobiety (majority stake).
Source: en.wikipedia.orgJob Cuts
Zalando said in February 2023 that it would cut several hundred jobs.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgABOUT YOU acquisition closed on 11 July; FY revenue reached ~$13.9 billion (€12.3 billion).
Source: corporate.zalando.comAnnounced a buy-back of up to $339 million (€300 million); narrowed 2026 adjusted EBIT guidance to €680-720 million in August.
Source: corporate.zalando.comMajor Acquisitions
ABOUT YOU
2025Takeover of the Hamburg-based fashion platform, which added a second consumer app and the SCAYLE commerce software unit.
Highsnobiety (majority stake)
2022Majority stake in the streetwear media and commerce brand, bringing in editorial and cultural content.
Fision
2020Swiss 3D body-scanning start-up acquired to support size and fit work.
Keep researching Zalando
Zalando Company History FAQ
When, where, and how was Zalando originally founded?
Zalando was founded in October 2008 in Berlin, Germany, by college friends Robert Gentz and David Schneider, initially incubated with seed funding from the Samwer brothers' Rocket Internet.
What was Zalando's initial product offering and inspiration?
Inspired by American online shoe retailer Zappos, Zalando began as an online shoe retailer operating out of a Berlin shared apartment, offering free shipping and 100-day free returns.
When did Zalando complete its initial public offering?
Zalando went public on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange in October 2014 under ticker symbol ZAL, raising over €600 million and eventually joining Germany's benchmark DAX 40 index in 2021.
How quickly did Zalando expand across the European continent?
Between 2009 and 2013, Zalando launched localized websites across Austria, France, Italy, the UK, the Netherlands, Spain, and Scandinavia, expanding into 25 European countries.
When did Zalando transition from wholesale retail to a platform model?
In 2015, Zalando launched its Partner Program, allowing third-party fashion brands to sell directly to consumers via Zalando's marketplace while utilizing its payment and logistics network.
What was the 'Scream of Joy' advertising campaign that fueled early growth?
Zalando's famous 'Schrei vor Glück' (Scream with Joy) television ad campaign depicted customers screaming with ecstatic joy when delivery couriers handed them Zalando shoe boxes, creating instant European brand awareness.
How did Zalando navigate the post-pandemic e-commerce normalization?
Following unprecedented pandemic surges, Zalando refocused on operational efficiency in 2022-2023, cutting overhead costs, optimizing fulfillment routes, and boosting business-to-business logistics offerings.
How many active customers does Zalando serve today across Europe?
Zalando serves approximately 50 million active customers across 25 European markets, offering thousands of global and local fashion brands alongside designer and beauty labels.
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