Amazon Expands LTL Freight Nationwide with 80,000 Trailers; Vendor Stars + Honey Secures $24m
AMZN•Amazon expanded its less-than-truckload freight service nationwide, deploying 80,000 trailers and 24,000 intermodal containers to target the $1.3 trillion third-party logistics market. Private-equity firm VMG Partners invested $24 million for a minority stake in collagen-bar brand Stars + Honey, which posted 300% growth and aims for $50 million revenue in 2026.
1. Amazon LTL Freight Expansion
Amazon has opened its less-than-truckload freight service to all U.S. businesses, supporting shipments of one to six pallets with real-time GPS tracking and automated scheduling. The service leverages a fleet of 80,000 trailers and 24,000 intermodal containers, aiming to undercut traditional LTL carriers for partial-load shipments.
2. Market Impact and Reactions
The expansion targets the $1.3 trillion third-party logistics market and follows a three-decade logistics build-out. Shares dipped about 0.5% in premarket trading while analysts maintain a Buy consensus with an average price target of $320.86, forecasting 8.3% EPS growth and 16.8% revenue growth year-over-year.
3. VMG Partners Stakes Stars + Honey
VMG Partners has acquired a minority stake in Stars + Honey through a $24 million investment. The brand, founded in 2023 and still majority-owned by CEO Daniel Rainey, sells exclusively on StarsandHoney.com and Amazon before debuting in brick-and-mortar retail later this month, and added VMG general partner McConnell Smith to its board.
4. Stars + Honey Growth and Expansion
Stars + Honey recorded 300% revenue growth in the past year and plans to hit $50 million in sales by 2026, backed by expansion into retail channels. Funding will underwrite a new 60,000 sq ft manufacturing facility in Novi, Michigan, scheduled to begin production in Q4 2026, replacing its Decatur plant.
