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UC plans raid in French parcels
Page 15
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• United Carriers plans to link up with a major French parcels firm to expand its express delivery network in France. The company concerned already runs a joint venture with United Carriers in Paris.
Allan Sinks, chief executive of DC's parent United Carriers International says the deal is part of the company's plan to expand its parcel delivery services to the Continent. "Although we already have a strong presence in Northern Europe our network is not as good as we would like in France," he says. "We will definitely work to develop operations there." If the negotiations fail, United Carriers will approach other French parcel firms, says Bulks.
UCI recently bought out Bunzl's transport interests including United Carriers. Other plans for the group during the next three years include boosting turnover from 2140 million a year to 2170 million.
"['his is a conservative estimate which does not take into account possible acquisitions," says Binks. He predicts that parcels will account for a smaller slice of UC's turnover than the current 50%. Any acquisitions will be made either in warehousing and distribution or for the company's European operations.
In the UK Binks wants to foster closer links with UCI's sister companies: "Bunzl failed to take advantage of the opportunities for United Carriers to link up with other areas of its transport business," he says. "We are now in a position to do so, and we can now offer our customers a much wider range of services."
Service standards in parcel delivery will be tightened and Binks says UC will focus on smaller loads: "The network and resources will be dedicated to a premium service. We want to control times of deliveries as well as competing on price." Li UCI has developed a parcel tracking system, and experimental computer packages have already been installed in several depots. Within the next 12 months all UC depots and principle UCI sites will be equipped with the system.