UK Parcelforce Worldwide looking for agency to handle £5m business

Parcelforce Worldwide is understood to be talking to agencies about its £5m advertising and direct marketing business.

The account is held by the integrated response agency Ladders, which changed its name from Soup earlier this year. Lowe previously handled the advertising account, but its contract with Parcelforce ended last year.

Parcelforce changed its positioning 18 months ago, axeing its non- guaranteed services to concentrate on its time-guaranteed and express services. It ran its first advertising campaign for six years supporting the new positioning earlier this year.

A company spokesman says: “There are no immediate plans to go to a pitch, but we are always reviewing and looking at our requirements.”

Earlier this year, Royal Mail appointed Abbott Mead Vickers. BBDO to handle its £20m creative advertising account. The agency pitched against Grey Worldwide, M&C Saatchi and J Walter Thompson. The media and buying account is held by Carat.

Royal Mail was recently hit by unofficial strikes and has had to clear a backlog of post.