DPD UK to Acquire Same-Day Delivery Specialist CitySprint
DPD UK is to acquire the UK’s largest privately owned same-day distribution company, CitySprint, enhancing its capabilities in the rapidly growing market for time-critical deliveries.
Once the acquisition is complete, DPD UK customers will benefit from enhanced same-day deliveries in the UK, while CitySprint customers will gain access to DPD UK’s domestic next-day and international services.
CitySprint is a specialist in same-day parcel delivery, one of the fastest growing logistics segments that has been fuelled by growth in e-commerce and demand for time-critical business deliveries.
“Even before the pandemic, demand for both next-day and same-day deliveries was soaring, and this trend has only escalated, something which we see continuing,” said Elaine Kerr, CEO of DPD UK. “DPD UK is already a market-leader, and once this acquisition completes, our position in the market will be strengthened further.”
Who Are CitySprint?
- CEO: Gary West
- Network: 35+ regional service centres
- Fleet: 3,500 vehicles
CitySprint is the UK’s premier same-day delivery provider, with a network able to reach 88% of the UK mainland within an hour. It operates from a network of more than 35 regional service centres, with a fleet of 3,500 vehicles. Some of the company’s key customers include auto-manufacturer Jaguar Land Rover, recipe box startup Gousto, and London’s Libraries Consortium.
Speaking about the acquisition, CitySprint chief executive Gary West said: “We are pleased to be joining DPDgroup and excited about the new opportunities for growth this will bring. Our two businesses are experts in their respective fields, with very complementary offers. This move is testament to both the continued strong demand for same day delivery and our successful growth strategy. We look forward to working with DPDgroup to explore new opportunities for our same day expertise and services.”
CitySprint’s Courier Hiring Drive
In July CitySprint said it would hire a further 600 couriers to keep up with demand for its services. Chief Operating Officer Mark Footman said the new hires would support growing demand in retail and healthcare, particularly in the UK capital.
“We are committed to deliver a first-class service to each of our clients all year round so we’re pulling out all the stops to ensure the fleet is prepared to face anything that comes our way in the coming months as the business continues to grow,” he said. "The new couriers will also help to ensure we continue to hit — and exceed — our targets in the London area, which has seen service levels increase dramatically over the last year.”
Image credit: CitySprint / Facebook
