TNT and publishers to start “mail alliance”

TNT Post has signed an agreement with Verlagsgruppe Georg von Holtzbrinck and Logistic-Mail-Factory to establish “mail alliance” in Germany. With this new alliance, TNT Post strengthens the existing co-operation with the mail distribution companies of leading German publishers. The alliance will be operational as of 25 January 2010.

The “mail alliance” offers a solution for regional customers with nationwide volumes. The partners of the “mail alliance” will create a platform to exchange their interregional mail volumes. In this way, customers will get a solution for their mail deliveries in Germany via alternative networks.

At the start, parties will interlink in a nationwide exchange system of more than 50 distribution companies via four hubs, an IT framework and a same-day transportation network, in collaboration with TNT Express.

Parties will leverage on existing assets and therefore the alliance will not require additional investments in logistic infrastructures.

Next to the founding parties other publishers and mail companies are invited to join the alliance in the course of this year.

Harry Koorstra, group managing director mail, and member of the Board of Management of TNT, said: “I welcome this initiative, which fits perfectly in our recently announced strategy ‘Vision 2015’. It is a clear step forward in achieving value realisation for our Mail business by working together with partners to strengthen our position, especially in Germany where we still are dealing with difficult market circumstances, such as minimum wage and VAT.”