A series of new appointments are planned at La Poste, the French national postal services group. They include Marc-Andre Feffer, the former vice-chairman of Canal+ (Vivendi Universal), who will reportedly replace Nicolas Routier in January as managing director in charge of strategy. Mr Routier is expected to become chairman of the group’s subsidiary Mediapost, replacing Philippe Grangeon, who is leaving.
Read MoreThe postal and telecommunications division of French union CGT has called on postal workers to take part in a national day of strike action in the second half of January. The union is protesting against what it calls “political refocusing” by the management of La Poste.
Read MoreAccording to the State Post Bureau (China Post), the special service fees of international mails, post cards, presswork and domestic registered mails have been calculated in terms of the new charging methods since January 1, 2004. The new charging standards say that the overall fees of the international mails reduced by about 5%-8% on average. China Post launched the SAL (Surface Air Lifted) services to over 60 countries such as the US, Canada, Japan and South Korea. The service is between the airmail and waterway mail in terms of speed and postal charges, and it is a new choice for the customers.
Read MoreRoyal Mail is to face competition on letter deliveries to homes and small businesses far sooner than it currently expects.
Plans being drawn up by regulator Postcomm could see competitors such as Deutsche Post or Dutch TPG setting up rival ‘postie’ operations – including competing post boxes – as early as 2005. The move would open domestic deliveries to competition two years earlier than planned. Under current Postcomm plans, competition comes in three phases. The first, which begins on 1 January, allows competitors to deliver 4,000 items or more, or to collect together mail from a number of customers, sort it, and hand it over to RM for delivery. Phase 2 in 2005 was to have merely reduced the lower limit on bulk items. But Postcomm believes that reducing the bulk threshold alone will not meet its target of opening 60% of the market by 2005.
Read MoreThe Post Office® today (December 27) announced it is investing £10 million in its biggest ever drive to increase revenue and win a new generation of customers for the future. The company is returning to television advertising after a two year gap as it prepares for New Year plans that include the launch of new financial services, expansion of banking services and a revamp of branches. The new financial services are being developed as part of a £125 million joint venture with the Bank of Ireland and will include personal loans, savings accounts, credit cards, personal insurance and mortgages.
Read MoreState-owned La Poste said it forecasts a breakeven net profit on ordinary operations before taxes for 2004. La Poste said it forecasts sales growth of 2.4 pct in 2004. For 2002, the company saw sales growth of 1.8 pct at 17.3 bln eur. La Poste said last month it plans to invest 3.4 bln eur between 2004-2010 to modernise its postal business.
Read MorePatricia Hewitt, the Trade and Industry Secretary, must decide by January 23 whether to force Sir David and Sir Frederick Barclay to sell or close the home shopping business they bought from GUS May 2003.
Alternatively, it may ask the Barclay brothers to sell off the equivalent arm of their Littlewoods home shopping group, Business Express. The commission is concerned that the combined businesses will have a significant share of the home delivery business, restricting competition.
Read MoreFedEx will move its Asia-Pacific transport and distribution centre from the Philippines to Guangzhou, China, the Guangzhou Daily has reported. According to FedEx, the lease of the eight-year-old Asia-Pacific hub in Subic Bay in the Philippines expires in 2007, and the runway and apron at Subic Bay have limited expansion room due to its deep water and hillside boundaries.
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