Australian parcel delivery startup Sendle has abruptly halted all new parcel pickups and shipments, leaving small business customers scrambling to secure alternative delivery providers.
The company advised business customers via email on Sunday that it had implemented an immediate pause on all new orders.
Sendle, which relies on third-party logistics partners to fulfil deliveries, said parcels already collected or currently in transit will continue to be delivered “at the discretion of the delivery partner including eBay, Shopify and Woo Commerce.
However, any bookings scheduled for pickup on 12 January or later will be cancelled.
“We understand this may be disruptive for your business and we apologise for any inconvenience caused,” the Sendle email stated.
Sendle was founded in 2014 and has shipped more than 65 million parcels across three countries since it began operations. It was primarily used by small businesses.
The company positioned itself as a challenger to Australia Post, offering flat-rate pricing, free tracking and an emphasis on carbon-neutral delivery.
The strategy attracted strong investor interest, culminating in a $45 million Series C raise in 2021 as COVID-era lockdowns drove a surge in e-commerce and parcel volumes.
Sendle raised a smaller $16 million round in 2024, ahead of a three-way merger with US logistics firms FirstMile and ACI Logistix.
The merger, completed in August 2025, created the FAST Group.
In December, Federation Asset Management — a major FAST Group backer — reportedly froze redemptions from a fund with significant exposure to the group while seeking clarity on ACI Logistix’s financial position following the deal.