GLS Belgium will start with the opening of a total of 150 parcel shops in mid-November. Theoutlets will be integrated in retail stores such as tobacconist’s and kiosks as well as chain
stores. They are part of the wider GLS strategy of developing a pan-European network of up to60,000 locations over the next five years.“Shopping and sending parcels at the same time – the parcel shops enable us to offer ourcustomers a practical and time-saving alternative to post office counters,” said Eberhard Fritze,managing director of GLS Belgium. The service is targeted at small commercial companies with lowshipment volumes as well as private individuals.
GLS Belgium is planning to put its first parcel shops in operation by the end of this year inBrussels, Gent and Antwerp, and a total of more than 100 parcel shops are planned in the whole ofBelgium by 2007. The company is currently actively looking for retail shop owners interested inoffering its parcel shop. “I am convinced that everyone involved stands to gain from the parcelshop campaign and the concept will prove itself in Belgium,” Fritze added.
In Germany, GLS has operated a network of parcel shops since 1997 and currently has about 2,500parcel points. A total of 5,000 are expected to have been established by the beginning of 2007.
