Electric cargo bike logistics firm Outspoken Logistics, which trades as Zedify and counts Evri and Zara among its partners, has called in the administrators after failing to secure new funding.

The company, which employed 138 staff, recently launched its tenth regional logistics hub, in Birmingham, and was seeking further funding.

Outspoken Logistics raised £5m from Barclays Sustainable Impact Capital, Mercia Ventures, Midlands Engine Investment Fund, and Green Angel Syndicate in 2023 and was given a further £4m by the same investors last year.

The company said at the time it would be using the new funding to expand into more cities in the UK and to triple its turnover.

However Zedify hit cashflow problems and was unable to raise sufficient funding to keep the company afloat.

Last week the company appointed Will Wright and Steve Absolom of Interpath as joint administrators.

Zedify’s Cambridge and Edinburgh logistics hubs remain operational, along with Bristol, which is operated by a different legal entity.

So far, 105 employee redundancies have been made, and 38 employees have been retained at the Cambridge and Edinburgh sites while Interpath explores options to keep the hubs operational.

However, Zedify’s remaining seven hubs have ceased operating. 

Ravi Patel of Interpath, said: “Zedify was considered a pioneer within the logistics market, being the UK’s first cargo bike delivery service with a zero-emission, last mile delivery model.

“We are working to explore all options and are seeking buyers for the business and its assets, including its fleet of electric bicycles and their associated intellectual property, as well as the Zedify brand.”

Yesterday (3 February) Zedify confirmed its administration on its LinkedIn page. It said: “It is with the heaviest heart that we must announce that our journey might be coming to an end.

It added: “In 2024, we saw the beginnings of a large-scale transition to low carbon deliveries as major brands and carriers put their faith in the Zedify model. Our riders and drivers have worked so hard, travelling nearly a million kilometres, almost 80% of which was on cargo bikes, saving a huge 292 tonnes of CO2e.

“We have pushed and pushed, and exhausted every possible avenue to keep Zedify going on a national level, but this time it just hasn’t been possible to find the funding.

“However, our team is working hard to try and salvage what we can, and we’re delighted to be able to let you know that we remain open for business with our local accounts in Cambridge, Edinburgh, Bristol, Brighton, Norwich, Glasgow and Plymouth.”

The statement continued: “In 2025, there are big carriers committing millions of pounds of investment in their transition to using cargo bikes at scale to deliver in cities; they’re doing that because time and time again cargo bikes have proved to be economical, sustainable and better tools to help provide a great delivery service when it comes to the urban last mile.

“That is quite a different picture to the world of urban deliveries when Zedify started in 2018, and we are very proud of our part in getting vans off urban roads and helping create cities that feel fit for the future. Once again, thank you for all your support in making this happen.”