Tag: Europe

EcoTherm choose DHL (UK)

Posted by | Oct 23, 2008 | |

EcoTherm Insulation (UK) has chosen DHL Exel Supply Chain to provide dedicated distribution services in a five-year deal worth GBP 10 million.
Under the agreement DHL will introduce and manage the entire distribution requirement for the company, which makes rigid thermal insulation boards, delivering product to merchants and distributors across the UK.
As part of the contract, DHL will introduce a core fleet of EcoTherm liveried vehicles and plans to develop agreements with hauliers to provide additional capacity to handle peaks in demand.
The company hope this co-ordinated approach, which includes finished goods distribution, supplier collections and the use of ‘high-cube’ trailers to accommodate larger customer orders, will enhance lead times.
Marsh added that partnering with DHL will help the company to drive down costs and inefficiencies as well carbon emissions.

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Post-Switch – Royal Mail most inefficient operator in Europe

Posted by | Oct 23, 2008 | |

Post-Switch says that Royal Mail has failed to react to the commercial world, describing it as one of the most inefficient operators in Europe.
Jonathan DeCarteret, Senior Market Analyst at Post-Switch, says that Royal Mail, under threat from competition, a ballooning pension deficit, shackled to a trade union and a conspicuous lack of innovation has put the USO (universal service obligation) in financial deficit and under threat.

“Royal Mail is one of the most inefficient operators in Europe and there is an urgent need to modernise, streamline, cut costs and compete on customer service. There is a general consensus that Royal Mail has failed to shake off a culture of complacency that reigned under monopoly protection and there is a real need for a culture of change that is about customer obsession and innovation. Royal Mail need the commercial talent to create new revenue streams and take advantage of a liberalised European postal market.” he said.

His remarks follow the announcement by Royal Mail this week that the pension deficit has grown and the universal service is now seriously in the red. The Hooper review, to be released imminently, is expected to recommend a radical shake-up of the Royal Mail, including part privatisation of the delivery network.

In a closed door speech on the Independent Review of the Postal Services Sector, Richard Hooper stated that “The situation in the postal services sector in the UK is and remains untenable”.

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Royal Mail: Half year trading statement 2008-09 (UK)

Posted by | Oct 23, 2008 | |

Royal Mail Group’s operating profit more than doubled from GBP 86 million to GBP 177 million in the first half of the 2008-09 financial year compared to the same period the previous year despite a further fall in mail volumes, the company announced today.

The strong financial performance came alongside a rise in customer quality of service with the most recent figures showing the vast bulk of mail hitting or exceeding its targets.

Operating profit grew by GBP 91 million in the first half of the year compared to the same period last year. The company’s continued focus on reducing overheads as competitive and economic pressures mount played a significant role in the financial uplift with reductions in IT and other costs in the Post Office network and efficiency gains in the Royal Mail Letters business.

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GLS Austria claims "Express-Parcel" is 100 pct on-time

Posted by | Oct 23, 2008 | |

GLS Austria said it has recorded a continuously growing demand for its “Express-Parcel” service introduced in February this year and is achieving 100 pct on-time delivery within the defined time-frame.

Nine months after the introduction of the service, the shipment volumes are steadily growing at double-digit rates, the company said in a statement. Next-day delivery by 17:00 is the standard option of the express service. Similar to basic parcel delivery, Express-Parcel can be combined with various additional services such as complementary insurance as well as time-definite and Saturday deliveries.

The special feature of the Austrian express product is its integration in the company’s parcel system.

According to GLS Austria, the 12:00 delivery is the most popular service option accounting for about 40 pct of all GLS express shipments nationwide.

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Business Post grabs Amtrak contracts

Posted by | Oct 22, 2008 | |

Business Post chief executive Guy Buswell has revealed that its UK Mail division has picked up contracts following the demise of business-to-consumer parcel carrier Amtrak in the summer. “We got in touch with Amtrak’s administrators and offered to move the stranded parcels in the network,” says Buswell.
“We then agreed sight of the customer database, which gave us a jump-start on the competition. We did not buy any Amtrak assets – just its customer list.” Buswell says although UK Mail picked up business as a result of this move, other carriers, such as Parcelforce and DHL, also gained customers.
Parcelforce confirmed it has picked up a Kleeneze contract. DHL declined to comment. Meanwhile, Buswell says a name change is in the offing. “We’ve been thinking about changing the group name to UK Mail Group. We’ll probably decide on it in the new year, then go to shareholders next summer to be voted on at our AGM,” he adds.

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