La Poste has two years to develop its network, says GeoPost executives

FRENCH POSTAL organisation La Poste and parcels subsidiary GeoPost have no more than two years in which to complete the development of their European express/parcels network.
That, at least, was the view expressed by Claude Begle, GeoPost general manager, at
the recent 12th World Mail & Express Conference.
He said the strategy of La Poste/GeoPost was to develop two international Express/parcel networks, one in Europe through German-based pan-European operator DPD (Deutscher Paket Dienst), in which the French group now had a controlling stake, and
worldwide through an alliance with US-based global express company FedEx.
“Having put in place our two networks, we want to have to have ownership in the four core territories of Europe – France, Germany, the UK and the Benelux,” Begle explained.
“Then we are looking at partnerships for covering the rest of Europe. We have not much
time. We have a maximum of two years to do that.”
In that context, Begle, La Poste/GeoPost had already established a 50/50 partnership with the Spanish postal service, was in intensive negotiations with the Italian post and was one of the three bidders for a capital stake in the Greek post office. “Also, although I cannot speak about them, there are quite a number of other developments taking place in all quarters of Europe,” he added.