Asendia, the new global mail joint venture between France’s La Poste and Swiss Post, is claimingto have had a successful first half-year as it aims to overtake DHL Global Mail as the largest
supplier of cross-border mail services.CEO Marc Pontet told last week’s European Postal Services conference in Madrid: “We have hadvery encouraging first results.” The company’s sales increased by 10% in its first six months, nocustomers were lost in any markets and operating profits were “above business plan”, he stated.
Asendia, whose artificial name combines “to send” and “to ascend”, started business in July 2012as a joint venture incorporating La Poste’s global mail business and Swiss Post International. Thecompany, with 1,200 employees in 15 countries, has turnover of €450 million and some 6,000customers.
Presenting the company’s strategy for the first time at an industry event, Pontet explained thatthe two separate businesses had not achieved their financial targets and the future of theinternational mail business had been “a big question-mark” at both groups. The joint venture wastherefore a move to gain a stronger combined position and reduce costs while focusing on profitableoperations and customer satisfaction, he said.
Asendia’s vision is “to become the leader in B2C solutions for global mail” by taking advantageof e-commerce growth and by focusing on the core business of mail such as catalogues and smallgoods up to 2kgs, Pontet said. He told CEP-Research that both product areas were growth segments,although Asendia would put importance on developing its small goods distribution services.
Asked about heavier parcels, he explained: “If our customers need solutions above 2kgs, then wewill do with partners. We will sell partner offers.” Pontet clarified that DPD would remain themain partner for distribution and delivery of larger parcels.
The company plans to focus mostly on larger customers to generate the bulk of its revenues andoffer a range of services including value-added options. “We will pilot a new international DirectMail service within a few weeks,” he said.
