Tag: Europe

Kate Swann, chief executive of WH Smith PLC, the newspapers, books and stationery retailer, said customer reaction to its experiment of in-store franchised Crown Post Office outlets has been very positive — a strong signal that the controversial trial will be extended across the group’s network.

Five other trial stores, in Swansea, Shrewsbury, Slough, Ashton-under-Lyne and Altrincham, have been running since the autumn — their establishment coinciding with the closure of traditional Post Offices in the same locations and consequent job losses.

Swann explained the trial has gone well as the outlets take up a relatively small amount of space but drive footfall. She noted that incremental sales of stationery products had been a feature.

A spokeswoman for WH Smith, which trades from 543 high street stores and 129 outlets at airports, train stations and motorway service areas, said the retailer is in constant dialogue with the Post Office and would say more about the trial when it publishes interim results on April 19.

UK Royal Mail bosses have got the green light to convert a former egg-packing plant near Winchester to handle part of their Southampton operation.

Planners gave the scheme to adapt the Humphrey Farms facility their backing.

It is the latest step in the postal service’s GBP10m scheme to move from its West Bay Road site in Southampton docks, which is seeing 245 city workers shifted around the county.

As previously reported in the Daily Echo, the Royal Mail is quitting the historic 10.5 acre site, which at one time handled much of Britain’s overseas post, because it is too expensive to modernise.

As a result, 100 staff will move to Marchwood, while a further 125 who work for Parcelforce are going to Fareham.

The remaining 20 employees are being transferred to the former egg-packing plant at Twyford, that was vacated last year by Freshlay Foods.