TNT UK wins contract with Universal Music

Whether it's Eminem's latest offering, the Kaiser Chiefs new album or the hottest Hollywood blockbuster, a £2.5m deal struck by TNT Express Services UK & Ireland will ensure that the top names in the entertainment industry will always be available on the shelves.

The business-to-business express delivery giant has won the contract from Universal Music Operations Ltd to make overnight deliveries to independent retailers and major High Street chains stocking music and film CDs and DVDs.

The Universal contract follows a successful trial period where TNT executed deliveries for Universal's Scottish retail network in the second half of 2005.
TNT's nationwide distribution of the CDs and DVDs start in February, when more than 500,000 items will be dispatched to High Street names including HMV, Matalan, WH Smith and independent retailers every week.

The deal marks the latest chapter in TNT's successful relationship with Universal. The Archive Services arm of TNT already stores the organisations master tapes and recordings from legendary artists like Bob Marley and Sir Elton John.

The Archive Services team based at Beckton, in East London, store and catalogue 200,000 original tapes and 30,000 archive boxes at its special temperature and humidity-controlled facilities.

The partnership with Universal proved so successful that other operating units of the Universal group, including Universal Publishing and Universal Music International, entrusted their precious recordings to the safe hands of TNT.

Danny Geach, TNT Express Services Business Development Manager, said: "I was aware of the archiving work we did for Universal, so I'd been in contact with them for more than six months discussing the possibility of playing a major role in the UK distribution operation.

"The trial period we rolled out in Scotland proved very successful, so it's great that Universal now want to extend the service nationwide."

Russell Richards, Distribution Director for Universal Music Operations Ltd, said: "We're absolutely delighted to have sealed this deal with TNT. We didn't take this decision very lightly – we'd been with our previous carrier for more than 25 years, but the quality and reliability of the TNT brand made it impossible for us to go with anyone else."

Stuart Stobie, Divisional Managing Director for TNT Express Services UK & Ireland, said: "The nature of this sector of the entertainment industry means the public want to have the most up-to-date and wide range of music CDs and DVDs available to them at all times.

"This contract means we'll be playing a major role in ensuring the fastest and most reliable transit of CDs and DVDs to the retailer across the country.

"Whether it's the latest U2 album or Wallace & Gromit film, we'll make sure they get to the retailers on time every time."

Major delivery deal for TNT
Tamworth Herald Series, default, p 5 02-09-2006
A Major deal, worth £2.5 million, has been landed by a national company based in Atherstone.

Tnt, the business-to-business express delivery giant, recently won the contract from Universal Music Operations Ltd that will see them making overnight deliveries to independent retailers and major High Street chains stocking music and film CDs and DVDs.

The contract follows a successful trial period where TNT executed deliveries for Universal's Scottish retail network in the second half of 2005.

"The nature of this sector of the entertainment industry means the public want to have the most up-to-date and wide range of music CDs and DVDs available to them at all times," said Stuart Stobie, Divisional Managing Director for TNT Express Services UK and Ireland.

"This contract means we'll be playing a major role in ensuring the fastest and most reliable transit of CDs and DVDs to the retailer across the country.

"Whether it's the latest U2 album or Wallace and Gromit film, we'll make sure they get to the retailers on time every time."

TNT's nationwide distribution of the CDs and DVDs starts this month when more than 500,000 items will be dispatched to High Street names including HMV, Matalan, WH Smith and independent retailers every week.