Sendle's sudden shutdown disrupts Australian small business deliveries amid merger concerns

Sendle, a leading small-business courier platform in Australia, has abruptly ceased all operations following its merger with US logistics firms, leaving thousands of merchants scrambling for alternative fulfilment options amid uncertainty.

Specialist small‑business delivery platform Sendle has abruptly halted all pickups and deliveries, leaving thousands of Australian small businesses scrambling to rebook orders and manage customer expectations.

According to In...

side Small Business, Sendle informed customers by email on Sunday 11 January that it had cancelled all scheduled deliveries and that “As of January 11 2026, Sendle will be halting all bookings for parcel pickup and delivery.” The publication reported the company told customers parcels already in transit would be delivered “at the discretion of the delivery partner”. Inside Small Business also quoted Sendle’s PR agency: “Sendle has informed its customers that it is no longer taking any future bookings. We are not able to provide any further comment at this time.” The story included detailed accounts from customers such as Hanna Shehata of KenzaKo, who said: “As a small, growing e-commerce business, reliable and predictable shipping is a critical operational pillar. It directly impacts customer experience, brand trust, cashflow, and fulfilment timelines,” and later: “The notification came with immediate effect, cancelling all future pickups and placing parcels already in transit at the “discretion” of delivery partners,” adding that the lack of guidance “places small businesses in a difficult position as we carry the responsibility of managing customer expectations without being given the information needed to do so.”

The shutdown comes five months after Sendle merged with two US logistics firms under the FAST Group banner, a tie‑up which aimed to expand the business into North America. Industry reporting says the merger, bringing together Sendle, ACI Logistix and FirstMile (also styled FirstMile/ FastMile in some accounts), was intended to create a larger trans‑Pacific parcel distribution platform, but has since been followed by concern about the merged group’s stability. Capital Brief and Yahoo Finance both reported the immediate cancellation of future bookings and advised customers that pickups scheduled for 12 January or later would be cancelled. SupplyChainDive said the Fast Group is now winding down operations, citing a customer notice in which the company said it was adapting to market conditions and stabilising its business.

Sendle began in 2014 as an alternative to Australia Post, marketing itself as a carbon‑neutral, small‑business‑focused courier. The company received significant backing during its expansion: NRMA Insurance, Touch Ventures, Federation Asset Management, Rampersand and King River Capital are among investors reported to have provided capital to the FAST Group. Despite that funding, multiple industry outlets report an abrupt cessation of services that has left active bookings and parcels in transit in uncertain limbo.

The practical fallout has been immediate for merchants. Inside Small Business described how KenzaKo rushed to secure Australia Post satchels and pivot fulfilment to reduce interruption, a move that preserved dispatch continuity but at higher cost. Other reporting from GC Magazine, The New Daily and Australian5 noted widespread frustration among small business owners and online sellers who said they were left without clear information on refunds, recovery of prepaid services, or the status of parcels already collected.

Courier industry figures warned the episode highlights risks of supplier concentration. Vincent Maneno, Co‑Founder of Fast Courier, told Inside Small Business that the shutdown “has left many businesses unexpectedly scrambling to fulfil orders and manage customer expectations,” and said the disturbance exposed why businesses should avoid reliance on a single logistics partner. Independent observers told The New Daily and Yahoo Finance that tight margins, market disruptions and consolidation across last‑mile networks have increased vulnerability to sudden service failures.

Regulatory or governmental responses have not been reported at time of publication, nor has Sendle provided a detailed public roadmap for refunds or parcel recovery beyond the brief customer notices cited by multiple outlets. Some reports encourage affected customers to contact the delivery partners named in Sendle’s communications; others advise merchants to document losses and seek alternative couriers immediately to preserve customer service standards and cashflow.

The abrupt halt by a high‑profile challenger to Australia Post is likely to prompt questions from investors and customers about governance and contingency planning following cross‑border mergers. Industry data and reporting show that when a carrier ceases accepting bookings without phased wind‑down arrangements, the operational and reputational burden shifts quickly to small sellers, who must absorb extra costs or face delayed deliveries.

For now, merchants are diversifying their courier relationships, revising fulfilment plans and pressing for clarity on refunds and in‑transit parcels as the logistics sector watches whether remaining FAST Group entities will stabilise or formally enter administration.

Source: Noah Wire Services