Interlink goes Dutch
Page 13
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
• National express parcels company Interlink Express is to make its second assault on the Continent through a reciprocal trading arrangement with a Dutch company.
The venture will initially offer a guaranteed two-day parcels service to Holland and a three-day service to Belgium and Luxembourg.
Interlink lost £4m last year when its German operation flopped after six months because of the refusal of franchisees to adopt revised operating methods for the European agreement (CM 16-22 November 1989). But Interlink chairman Richard Gabriel says the company has learned from its mistakes: "This time we're taking a much slower approach
than our whirlwind dash in and out of Germany, and of course it's a lot safer for the City."
Gabriel will not disclose the identity of the Dutch firm, but he expects the service to be up and running in September once Customs details have been finalised.
"The Dutch company has a turnover of around £8m and has changed over to a hub system mainly because they were so impressed with our system of operation."
Building a European network by acquisition seems to be the strategy Interlink will adopt: "If this arrangement blossoms in the right way, we shall be having serious talks about the ownership and running of that business," says Gabriel.