MBE proposes alternative to post offices
Mail Boxes (MBE), a subsidiary of US delivery company United Parcel Service, aims to create a delivery, office and communications service network in Germany on a franchise basis through German subsidiary MBE Deutschland. It aims to grant franchises to more than 1,000 independent businessmen within 10 years. The US-based company’s outlets offer postal deliveries, fax and photocopying, among other services.
UPS aims to use MBE Deutschland for deliveries to private customers, as packages can be left at the subsidiary’s outlets for collection by recipients. UPS itself generates 80 per cent of its business in Germany with business customers for, as private customers are often not at home at the time when parcels are delivered to their doors, this section of the market has not so far been perceived as profitable for the company. Further opportunities will arise for UPS in Germany if, as planned, the letter delivery section of the market is deregulated in the next few years. Former state monopoly Deutsche Post still has an extensive monopoly in this field.
