Interlink links up for Europe
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• Parcels company Interlink has named the partner for its Benelux venture (CM 19 July) and unveiled ambitious European expansion plans, which include setting up in a new country every four months.
It has joined forces with Dutch haulier Wegtransport to deliver parcels in Belgium, Holland and Luxembourg within 48 hours. Consignments will be air freighted from Heathrow to Amsterdam. Interlink will deliver for Wegtransport's customers in the UK.
The company is planning to launch services in other countries including Spain, Italy, Sweden, Norway and France. Operations director Peter Gent is currently talking to potential partners.
Interlink's latest Continental move is more cautious than its last, when it lost £4m after its German franchised operation collapsed in November. Although Gent says the 6m profits it will make this year will more than make up for that, it is unlikely to take the franchised path again.
The company, which is Stock Market listed, set up a subsidiary in Germany and recruited hauliers as franchisees. But as the operators were not dedicated to Interlink they often failed to deliver on time or generate enough customers, admits Gent. "Germany will be last, this time," he adds.