NEWS
8 ASIAN TRADER 21 MARCH 2025
The Post Ofce and DPD
have announced an
expansion of their
partnership with
international delivery
services.
Following a success-
ful trial at 300 post
ofces that has been
running since February,
customers wanting to
send parcels abroad can
now choose from “DPD
Classic”, “DPD Direct Lite” and
“DPD Air Classic & Air Express”
services. The international
delivery services are now
available at 4,100 post ofces
across the UK.
The Post Ofce and DPD
partnership began in 2021 and
already includes “Click and
Collect” and Next Day delivery
services within the UK.
The PO and DPD announce-
ment follows a virtual Postmas-
ter Conference organised and
hosted by postmasters. The
Post Ofce outlined it re-
mained focused on expanding
Mails and Parcels services to
more branches, allowing
customers access to the best-in-
market, safe, and convenient
options for shipping, pickup,
and drop-of—both online and
in-branch.
“As part of delivering our
‘New Deal for Postmasters’ it’s
vital that we strengthen
postmasters’ ofer to custom-
ers. Expanding our already
successful partnership with
DPD is a demonstra-
tion of this,” Neil
Brocklehurst, Post
Ofce acting chief
executive, said.
“In today’s
fast-paced world,
customers and
businesses expect
international parcels
to reach their
destination in a
matter of days and
having DPD international
delivery services available
provides them with the
options to meet their needs.”
Elaine Kerr, DPD UK chief
executive, commented: “We
really value our relationship
with the Post Ofce and
introducing international
services is the logical next step,
with online and buy-in-branch
now well established. We have
the largest delivery network in
Europe and deliver to over 200
destinations worldwide.”
Expanding to 4,100 branches following successful trial
Post Ofce and DPD expand
Post Ofce and DPD expand
international delivery services
international delivery services
The British Independ-
ent Retailers Associa-
tion (BIRA) has
expressed concern
over the latest figures
from the BRC-NIQ
Shop Price Index for
February 2025, saying
that while overall shop
prices remain in
deflation, the rise in
food prices is worrying
for retailers and consumers
alike.
The BRC report shows
shop price inflation was
unchanged at -0.7% while
non-food inflation decreased
to -2.1% YOY in February.
However, food inflation
increased to 2.1% and fresh
Food inflation increased to
1.5% while ambient food
inflation increased to 2.8%.
Helen Dickinson OBE,
Chief Executive of BRC, said
that breakfast, in particular,
became more expensive as
butter, cheese, eggs,
bread and cereals all
saw price hikes.
“We expect food
prices to be over 4%
up by the second half
of the year. If
Government wants
to keep inflation at
bay, enable retailers
to focus on growth,
and help households,
it must mitigate the swathe
of costs facing the industry.
It can start by ensuring no
shop ends up paying more
than they already do under
the new business rates
proposals and delaying the
new packaging taxes.”
Retailers body raises alarm
over rising food prices
InPost launches ‘Send’
InPost launches ‘Send’
label-less parcel service
label-less parcel service
Send will enable consumers to post
parcels from one InPost Locker to
another, an out-of-home (OOH) point
such as a PickUp and Drop Of
(PUDO) location, or directly to their
chosen home address.
Accessible through the InPost
app, it is a convenient way to send
parcels without needing a label,
giving customers and receivers
complete visibility and assurance
through real-time tracking. In
addition, pricing is simple and
transparent – parcels up to 15kg can
be sent based on size: small, medium,
and large.
InPost delivered 93.2 million
parcels in 2024.
Arla Foods Lockerbie to
Arla Foods Lockerbie to
get extra £90m
get extra £90m
Arla Foods will invest nearly £90
million into its Lockerbie site in
Scotland to support the farm-
er-owned co-op’s future growth.
Alongside the £300m site
investments announced in 2024,
which included £34m into Locker-
bie’s cheddar production, it has
recently announced a proposal to
further increase the investment in
Lockerbie to enable it to future proof
its UK production.
The UKs largest dairy cooperative
is proposing to create a Centre of
Excellence to produce UHT and
lacto-free milk at Lockerbie, which
could create new roles in the local area.
Premium labels help AB
Premium labels help AB
InBev improve revenues
InBev improve revenues
AB InBev reported forecast-beating
fourth-quarter profits and progress in
cutting decade-old debts.
Labels like Corona and Michelob
Ultra helped push revenues to an
all-time high. The world’s largest
brewer said cost management also
drove margin expansion, producing a
10.1% rise in fourth-quarter profits
versus analyst forecasts of 7.7%.
The results shows that the
company’s revenue increased by 2.1%
in last quarter of 2024. The growth
was led by Corona.
Analysts described the company’s
results as a strong end to the year,
following bumper results from rival
Heineken and Carlsberg.