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Royal Mail owner to rebrand thousands of Collect+ stores as it buys stake Royal Mail owner to rebrand thousands of Collect+ stores as it buys stake
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International Distribution Services to create Royal Mail Shops for collecting, sending and returning parcelsInternational Distribution Services to create Royal Mail Shops for collecting, sending and returning parcels
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Thousands of convenience stores will be branded Royal Mail Shop, after the delivery company’s new owner acquired a stake in the parcel network Collect+, in the first big deal since it was taken over by a Czech billionaire.Thousands of convenience stores will be branded Royal Mail Shop, after the delivery company’s new owner acquired a stake in the parcel network Collect+, in the first big deal since it was taken over by a Czech billionaire.
Royal Mail owner International Distribution Services (IDS), which was taken over by Daniel Křetínský’s EP Group in April in a £3.6bn deal, said it had bought a 49% stake in Collect+ for £43.9m, which offers access to almost 8,000 pickup points – newsagents, convenience stores, supermarkets and petrol stations. The Royal Mail owner, International Distribution Services (IDS), which was taken over by Daniel Křetínský’s EP Group in April in a £3.6bn deal, said it had bought a 49% stake in Collect+ for £43.9m, which offers access to almost 8,000 pickup points – newsagents, convenience stores, supermarkets and petrol stations.
The launch of Royal Mail Shop puts its brand directly on the high street, with customers able to collect, send and return parcels. Significantly, the shops will be open during evenings and weekends, unlike many Post Office branches.The launch of Royal Mail Shop puts its brand directly on the high street, with customers able to collect, send and return parcels. Significantly, the shops will be open during evenings and weekends, unlike many Post Office branches.
Shops will sell Royal Mail postage, initially just Tracked 24 and Tracked 48, with more products to follow. This means customers can pay in person rather than online.Shops will sell Royal Mail postage, initially just Tracked 24 and Tracked 48, with more products to follow. This means customers can pay in person rather than online.
The move comes two years after Royal Mail lost a 360-year-old monopoly on delivering parcels from Post Office branches, after Evri and DPD signed deals.The move comes two years after Royal Mail lost a 360-year-old monopoly on delivering parcels from Post Office branches, after Evri and DPD signed deals.
The Royal Mail service is now available in 500 shops and will be rolled out more widely in the coming months. The Royal Mail service is available in 500 shops and will be rolled out more widely in the coming months.
Royal Mail and Collect+ first partnered in May last year, allowing Royal Mail customers to drop off returns and pre-paid parcels at Collect+ shops across the UK. The stores will continue to accept other carriers’ parcels for pre-paid drop off and collection.Royal Mail and Collect+ first partnered in May last year, allowing Royal Mail customers to drop off returns and pre-paid parcels at Collect+ shops across the UK. The stores will continue to accept other carriers’ parcels for pre-paid drop off and collection.
Last month, Vinted became Royal Mail’s first partner to offer its customers collection from the stores.Last month, Vinted became Royal Mail’s first partner to offer its customers collection from the stores.
The shops are part of Royal Mail’s network of almost 24,000 parcel points – including 2,000 lockers, 11,500 Post Office branches, 1,200 Royal Mail customer service points and 1,400 parcel postboxes.The shops are part of Royal Mail’s network of almost 24,000 parcel points – including 2,000 lockers, 11,500 Post Office branches, 1,200 Royal Mail customer service points and 1,400 parcel postboxes.
Alistair Cochrane, the interim chief executive of Royal Mail, said: “The launch of the Royal Mail Shop brand creates a new and improved high street destination for all of our customers’ parcel needs in one location.Alistair Cochrane, the interim chief executive of Royal Mail, said: “The launch of the Royal Mail Shop brand creates a new and improved high street destination for all of our customers’ parcel needs in one location.
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“This investment is one of the ways we’re making Royal Mail more convenient. We have the UK’s largest network of out-of-home parcel points – from lockers to solar-powered postboxes – and we’re focused on being the nearest and simplest choice for our customers.”“This investment is one of the ways we’re making Royal Mail more convenient. We have the UK’s largest network of out-of-home parcel points – from lockers to solar-powered postboxes – and we’re focused on being the nearest and simplest choice for our customers.”
Collect+ was set up as a joint venture between PayPoint and Yodel in 2009, and PayPoint later acquired full ownership for £6m in 2020. Yodel, a delivery service based in Liverpool, was owned by the billionaire brothers David and Frederick Barclay and acquired by InPost in April. Collect+ was set up as a joint-venture between PayPoint and Yodel in 2009, and PayPoint later acquired full ownership for £6m in 2020. Yodel, a delivery service based in Liverpool, was owned by the billionaire brothers David and Frederick Barclay and acquired by InPost in April.
IDS’s investment in the parcel network comes as it pulls back on letter deliveries. Royal Mail will drop second-class letter deliveries on Saturdays and change the service to every other weekday from 28 July.IDS’s investment in the parcel network comes as it pulls back on letter deliveries. Royal Mail will drop second-class letter deliveries on Saturdays and change the service to every other weekday from 28 July.
Royal Mail missed its targets by delivering nearly a quarter of first class mail late in the three months to 29 June. Křetínský pledged to give the postal service “a fresh start” with a focus on the booming demand for parcel services. Royal Mail missed its targets by delivering nearly a quarter of first-class mail late in the three months to 29 June. Křetínský pledged to give the postal service “a fresh start” with a focus on the booming demand for parcel services.