Tag: UK

Royal Mail 'is keeping secret way of avoiding junk post'

Posted by | Aug 30, 2006 | |

The Royal Mail is failing to give customers sufficient information on how to avoid receiving its junk mail deliveries, a consumer watchdog said yesterday.

The accusation follows the suspension of Roger Annies, a postman who told people on his round how they could stop receiving unsolicited letters and fliers.

“It should not be difficult for customers to opt out,” a spokesman for Postwatch said. “They have the choice. At the moment it is a little prohibitive.”

Royal Mail makes large profits from delivering fliers and letters addressed to “The Householder” or “The Occupier” and, although it says it offers all customers the opportunity to choose not to receive such mailshots, which are known as Door to Door items, the service is not publicised.

Postwatch said that the Door to Door opt-out service had changed its address several times and that customers still had to write a letter to make sure that their wishes were carried out, even after they had called a special number.

The service is also not advertised anywhere and no details could be found during a search of the company’s website.

Royal Mail said that the business mail sent through the Door to Door system was vital for the group’s ability to compete with its rivals.

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DHL wins national contract for Sainsbury's TU fashion brand

Posted by | Aug 30, 2006 | |

DHL Exel Supply Chain has been awarded a GBP 37 million, five-year contract with J Sainsbury plc, for the provision of warehouse services for the “TU” fashion clothing range. The adult clothing range has been managed by DHL Exel Supply Chain since 2004, and the children’s range was included in operations from May 2006. DHL Exel Supply Chain, through its Department Stores & Fashion division, will now manage UK warehouse management operations for the entire clothing TU range at Sainsbury’s Fashion Business dedicated 20,000 sq m facility in Coventry until November 2009.

The DHL Exel Supply Chain operation will incorporate the receipt and storage of Sainsbury’s adult and children’s clothing ranges to the central Coventry warehouse. Pre retailing services which makes garments ready for store includes store picking, conversion from boxed to hanging garment and onward transportation to 200 stores nationwide. Retek RDM, a new warehouse management system, was installed into the Coventry site in June 2006 which has helped to enable a smooth transition.

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Royal Mail to copy Unipart share scheme

Posted by | Aug 27, 2006 | |

Royal Mail plans to model its controversial employee share scheme on one that has delivered thousands of pounds of profit to workers at Unipart.

The Unipart scheme has been running since John Neill, Unipart’s chief executive, led a buyout of the business from British Leyland in 1987. The scheme is credited with transforming the company’s relationship with its 10,000 workers.

The Government is keen on the scheme, which it says it does not regard as a first step to privatisation. But a change in legislation is required for it to go through and more than 200 Labour MPs have threatened to vote against it.

An employee share scheme is also fiercely opposed by the Union of Communication Workers – which has threatened to withhold its Pounds 200,000 contribution to the Labour Party if the Government gives the green light.

Royal Mail regards employee share ownership as part of a wider shake-up that will see the Government help it to deal with its pension deficit by freeing up cash for investment to help it compete with private firms.

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Royal Mail is sorting out its property portfolio

Posted by | Aug 27, 2006 | |

Royal Mail has embarked on a wholesale clear-out of its property portfolio. The move is part of the group’s attempt to become more commercial in the wake of the opening up of the postal market to competition earlier this year.

It is looking to dispose of 130 of its disused post offices, sub post offices and delivery centres that are loss making. It will also transfer ownership of a further 180 properties to a commercial buyer.

The move comes after Royal Mail executives revealed that a commercially viable postal network would comprise just 4,000 post offices, compared with the current 14,500.

Royal Mail said the 310 properties represented only 2.9 per cent of its total operating space and that it intended to lease back any property that it still required.

The funds raised from the disposal will be used to modernise Royal Mail’s facilities and equipment. The company expects to generate cost savings in the region of pounds 5m.

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Alan Firmin joins PalletFORCE

Posted by | Aug 25, 2006 | |

Kent transport company Alan Firmin has joined the PalletFORCE palletised distribution network in order to enhance the range of services it can offer to its customers.

Alan Firmin decided to become a member of the Network after it recognised the need to diversify its business. “We are an established name in full-load distribution, but many existing and potential customers were also enquiring about smaller pallet drops. Joining a distribution network allows us to become a ‘one stop shop’ and able to accommodate these orders,” comments Paul Denyer, Operations Manager at Alan Firmin.

The choice of PalletFORCE was made after Alan Firmin received several recommendations of its reliability from fellow Transport Association members. The company also felt that PalletFORCE’s member-owned status would be beneficial.

Alan Firmin has been recruited as a Shareholder Member Depot for the BR and parts of the TN and ME postcodes. It will share responsibility for the latter areas with existing PalletFORCE members, as part of the Network’s programme of postcode consolidation.

Based in Snodland, Alan Firmin’s diverse business covers transport, warehousing, property and farming. It currently operates a fleet of 32 tractor units and 5 rigid vehicles.

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