Itella deal to run parcel terminals in Finnish supermarkets
Itella Group has agreed a deal with Finnish retail cooperative S-ryhmä (S-Group) that will see it establishing up to 350 parcel terminals in its supermarkets. The deal with Itella’s Itella Post subsidiary will see some machines installed as early as this year, with hundreds more phased in gradually until 2015.
Locations will include ABC stores, Prisma hpermarkets and other S-Group sites.
Itella is using automated self-service parcel terminals made by Estonian manufacturer Cleveron, branding the service “SmartPOST”.
The terminals provide an alternative collection and drop-off point for consumers sending or receiving parcels up to 35kg in weight, and in particular provides a way for working people to collect ecommerce purchases when not at home to receive them.
Itella Post package services director Aku Happo said his company already has 75 automated parcel terminals in Finland, and that their popularity is growing among consumers.
“The Itella Post and the S-Group package machine agreement covers particularly smaller sites, S-supermarkets and ABC stores,” he said.
“Adding a self-service option for package delivery in a local area associated with the home address increases the choice for the customer.”
Itella has been running a summer sale in June, July and part of August allowing customers to send packages from parcel terminal to parcel terminal, or between a terminal and a post office, for only one euro.
The sale also allows the sending of packages between machines in Finland and Estonia for only EUR 5 until the end of this month.
Prices usually start at EUR 6.90 per piece.
The company is also offering a special 20% discount code for ecommerce customers to shop at the beauty products retailer The Body Shop and have items delivered to a SmartPOST terminal.
Ilkka Brander, the S-Network managing director, said introducing the parcel terminals to stores meant broadening the offering for customers.
“Products purchased online can be ordered either shipping directly to your home, the nearest post office, or a package machine at your local Prisma,” said Brander.
