Hermes, Europe’s largest B2C delivery company, will enter the British market via the re-branding ofParcelnet under the group name in an important move towards establishing a pan-European brand.
Parcelnet Ltd, a subsidiary of the Hermes parent company Otto Group and sister company to theGerman B2C specialist, will re-brand to Hermes as of March 12, the Hamburg-based company announced.
“With our own brand in Great Britain we are underlining our ambitions to further expand ourlogistics networks in one of the strongest revenue markets in Europe and to push our cross-borderbusiness,” declared Hanjo Schneider, CEO Hermes Europe. “At the same time, we are taking animportant step on the path towards a common European umbrella brand.”
Carole Woodhead, CEO Hermes UK, added: “With the introduction of the Hermes brand in theBritish parcels market we are combining a higher service level for consumers and businesscustomers. We are planning to continue extending our product portfolio in the C2C sector in GreatBritain and to use the advantages of our joint basis more intensively, especially for mail-orderbusiness.”
Parcelnet, founded in 2000, delivers about 110 million shipments a year through its networkof 7,500 independent delivery workers. It has revenues of about £200 million (€257 million). Keycustomers include Next Directory, Readers Digest, Lakeland Limited and Boden. The two mail-ordercompanies Lands’ End and JD Williams are launch customers for the cross-border delivery servicebetween Germany and the UK introduced last year.
Hermes is gradually building up a European B2C network through its subsidiaries in Austriaand Italy and the sister companies in Britain and France (Mondial Relay). Elsewhere it currentlyuses partners for cross-border deliveries.
