Belgium: bpost to launch its new prepaid payment card bpaid

On February 13th bpost will launch bpaid. It will be the first universal prepaid payment card available on the Belgian market.

bpaid is a secure payment option which offers the advantages of cash and the convenience of a payment card. By fixing his budget beforehand, the user can manage the expenses of his children's. Furthermore bpaid protects the user for his online payments given that the card is not associated to any bank account. It can be used all around the world to pay for purchases or to withdraw cash thanks to the wide MasterCard network.

Source: bpost                                       [more]

Aavo Kärmas was appointed as the new CEO of Estonian Post.

The Estonian Post supervisory council announced today its decision to appoint as the new CEO of Estonian Post the former Member of the Board Aavo Kärmas. He was elected unanimously amongst 19 candidates.

Kärmas has shown very good work so far and has the clearest vision of the future of Estonian Post said chairman of the supervisory council Meelis Atonen. There are challenging times to come, but I believe that Aavo Kärmas will complete successfully Baltic expansion projects and conducts firmly Estonian Post towards better results added Atonen.

Source: Estonian Post                            [more]

Estonian Post ended the year 2011 with profit.

Postal and logistics company’s preliminary unaudited financial results show 1,2 million euro profit for 2011.

„We are pleased to note that the company has closed its fourth consecutive year with profit, “said chairman of the council Meelis Atonen. „Given the economic situation and universal service obligation this is a good result. The company itself considers most important the positive result of the main activity and basic services. Compared with the previous year, revenue of the main activity showed 4% growth, counting 0, 6 million euros.
„Estonian Post 2011 operating income was 47,6 million euros. For the coming years our main target is to contribute more extensively to the development of parcel - and e-services, ”said CEO Ahti Kallaste. Parcel services volumes are continuously growing since 2010, but from year to year volumes of letters, delivery of periodicals and pensions are in the falling trend. Last year showed growth in both segments – processing of e-invoices and direct mail services.

Source: Estonian Post                             [more]

Commissioner Redding proposed a comprehensive reform of the data protection rules

Commissioner Redding proposed a comprehensive reform of the data protection rules at a press conference on 25 January 2012. 

Click here to find out more about the reform.

Click here to refer to PostEurop's position paper on the data Protection reform

International Business: Swiss Post opens branch in Norway

Swiss Post is expanding its presence in Scandinavia: Swiss Post International opened a branch in Norway at the beginning of the year. This provides Swiss online dealers with the possibility of significantly reducing customs clearance costs for importing to the non-EU country of Norway and cutting goods costs for Norwegian consumers.

Source: Swiss Post                               [More]

Federal Agency of Communications: the Regions support the idea of providing federal & municipal services through post offices.

The idea of using the 42,000 post offices network to guarantee an access to every citizen to federal & municipal services, including e-services, has been discussed at a Government meeting with Representatives of the FAC, the Minister of Economic Development and members of the Regions' executive. The project has to be further developed.

Source: Russian Post                              [more]

Russian Post & Deutsche Post: track & trace becomes easier.

Both Posts found an agreement to share data on the circulation of the mail.

Source: Russian Post                              [more]

Positive balance for Correos' solidarity campaigns in 2011 (UNICEF, Red Cross etc.) & mobile phone recycling campaign.

Correos sold in 2011 various UNICEF items for a total amount of €1.203.725.  In collaboration with Red Cross Spain, Correos sold 1,216,402 lottery tickets for Christmas.  The Company sold 152,591 pens as well at the initiative of the Fundación Crecer Jugando (Growing up playing) y Radio Nacional de España (RNE) to collect funds for children in need in 20 countries.

Source: Correos

"pro clima mailing": compensation project for Swiss Post

Since the beginning of 2009, letters, parcels and goods consignments can be mailed with the "pro clima" surcharge, thereby offsetting the associated CO2 emissions. These surcharges are invested entirely in climate protection projects. Customers can now take part in an online vote to determine in which international Gold Standard climate protection project Swiss Post will invest its "pro clima" surcharges from 2011. For the first time, part of the CO2 emissions will be offset with a Swiss environmental protection project. Swiss Post has also invested in environmentally friendly parcel delivery: all gas-powered vehicles were run on biogas in 2011.

Source: Swisspost                             [more]

Estonian Post provides financial services in more than 300 post offices

Currently Estonian Post has a cooperation agreement with SEB Bank, but after a year the company is open to new challenges and ready to negotiate also with other financial institutions to start cooperation for providing their services.

Board Member of Estonian Post Aavo Kärmas assured that financial services hold an important place in the company’s service portfolio. “Our post office network exceeds three times the total number of branches of all banks in Estonia. It provides a good opportunity to offer financial and banking services while banks decide to close their branches”.

Source: Estonian Post                            [more]

Successful Croatian Post iphone application: over 5000 users

In less than a month after its launch, the Croatian Post's iphone application reached over 5,000 users. It offers all the useful information on Croatian Post services and is useful to daily clients looking for a zip code or to tourists visiting the country looking for a post office to send a postcard.  The "Pošta" application became in just a few weeks time the first navigation app and the second on the full list of free apps.

Source: Croatian Post                            [more] 

Bulgarian Post's express international money transfers

On January 11th the Bulgarian Post launched a new express international money transfer service as a part of the Moneygram system. In only 10 minutes customers can receive and send money to/from around the world. This service is currently available in 165 post offices with more coming soon.

Source: Bulgarian Post                          [more]

Russian Post Money Transfer Service “Forsazh” to cover whole Russia

71% increase in 2011 compared to 2010. 12,000 post offices in 2010, 19,000 in 2011. This service will be developed to cover the whole country and to allow international transfers as well. Although it may not be as fast as what competitors can offer, this program relies on its (low) cost and its efficiency.

Source: Russian Post                              [more]

PostNL intercepts large series of counterfeit stamps sold through websites
Estimated damage of several million euro

PostNL has intercepted a large series of counterfeit postage stamps offered through public websites for a price well under face value. PostNL could have incurred several million euro in damage. PostNL’s authenticity recognition system identifies the counterfeit stamps after which shipment of the postal item will be stopped. Under Article 216 of the Dutch Criminal Code, anyone who counterfeits postage stamps or uses counterfeit postage stamps can be sent to prison for up to six years.

Source: PostNL                                   [more]

The French La Poste and Swiss Post plan to combine their international cross-border mail activities

The French La Poste and Swiss Post, two of Europe’s principal postal operators, have announced their intention to combine their respective crossborder mail activities in order to further enhance and develop their international mail business. The alliance could be operational in the course of 2012 in the form of a joint venture company to be owned equally by La Poste
and Swiss Post, and which would be positioned among the key players in this sector. The Boards of Directors of the two companies have approved the joint venture, subject to all required regulatory approvals being granted.

Source: Groupe La Poste/Swiss Post         [more]

Letters to Santa Claus prove a big hit

Leading up to Christmas, postal staff throughout the world are answering letters from children eagerly awaiting a response from Santa Claus.

Source: UPU                                         [more]

On-line supermarket brings everyday necessities to the internet

Deutsche Post DHL and Berlin-based company All you need GmbH have teamed up as partners in an e-commerce project. Since the beginning of the year, Christian Heitmeyer, initiator and founder of the successful brands4friends shopping club, and Jens Drubel, CRM and marketing specialist, have been developing an on-line supermarket that features an intelligent shopping assistant. The assistant is designed to simplify the overly complex customer and ordering dialog typical of on-line shopping for everyday necessities. "It will provide a new kind of speed and simplicity," explained Drubel. "With customers even able to give the intelligent shopping assistant tasks which it then carries out independently."

"The cooperation with All you need gives us the opportunity to develop our services as part of this new on-line offering," added Dr. Andrej Busch, CEO of DHL Parcel Germany.

Source: Deutsche post                           [more]

La Poste Hands Postal Workers Keys to 10,000 Electric Vehicles

Jean-Paul Bailly, Chairman and Managing Director of La Poste, on 13 December, in Chanteloup-Les-
Vignes (78) the first 10 of 10,000 electric vehicles to be deployed by 2015 for the collection and
delivery of mail by postal workers throughout France.

Source: Groupe La Poste                       [more]

Croatian Post acquires 64,75% ownership of printing house Vjesnik, in preparation for new products and services

Croatian Post acquired a 64,75% ownership of the Vjesnik printing house. Since Vjesnik is the largest printing house in the Republic of Croatia, this means that Croatian Post will start 2012 very well prepared for introducing numerous new products and services. Vjesnik prints over 50 different Croatian daily newspapers (2 national), weekly lifestyle and business magazines and monthly glossy magazines (with the greatest circulation), like Cosmopolitan, Playboy, Grazia, Nacional, Globus, Gloria, Extra, Jutarnji list, Vjesnik, Auto klub, Astro magazine, etc. It also does business with all Croatian media houses.

Source: Croatian Post

Final Report on Postal Sector Evolution,

and its social aspects

The European Social Dialogue Committee (SDC) for the Postal sector published its final report, based on its first large scale study across 27 member states. Formed in 1999, following the European Commission's decision to 'adapt and promote social dialogue at the community level', the Committee is made up of representatives from European postal operators (via PostEurop), postal employees (via UNI Post & Logistics) and the European Commission. The objective of the SDC is to advise the European Commission on initiatives in European policy which could have a social impact on the postal sector and to encourage and promote social dialogue within the postal sector. This final report reveals main findings of the study and conclusions for next steps.

Estonian Post CEO Ahti Kallaste leaves his position

Supervisory council of the company accepted letter of resignation from Ahti Kallaste last week.

The Council sees important role of Ahti Kallaste in the development of the company.
"The Council appreciates the contribution of Ahti Kallaste to development of the company. Under his leadership management of the company has changed considerably clearer and more efficient, he has also carried out several important projects, such as reorganization of post office network and introduction of new e-services, "said chairman of the council Meelis Atonen. Atonen added that he respects the wish of Mr.Kallaste to move on to the private sector.

Source: Estonian Post                            [more]

New CEO: Susanne Ruoff takes over from Jürg Bucher

The Board of Directors of Swiss Post has appointed Susanne Ruoff as new CEO. The 53-year-old economist will replace Jürg Bucher as CEO of Swiss Post as per 1 September 2012. In the person of Susanne Ruoff, a manager owning extensive leadership experience in large international corporations will assume the management of Swiss Post. Thanks to her long-standing activities in leading positions at IBM and most recently as CEO at BT Switzerland Ltd. (British Telecom), she can strengthen Swiss Post’s Executive Management particularly with her competencies in the digital realm.

Source: Swiss Post                                    [more]

"6 Stonne Velo" raises €5,000 for the Red Cross

During the "6 Stonne Velo" (6-hour cycling event) on 10 July 2011 at the Cloche d'Or Luxembourg, the "Velossektioun" of the Amicale des P&T (the cycling team of P&T’s social committee) and the Luxembourg Red Cross offered participating cyclists the chance, via a donation, to support an aid project of the Luxembourg Red Cross.

Source: P&T Luxembourg

PostNL's MijnPakket service: A personal overview of all your online purchases (in time for your Christmas shopping too!)

PostNL is introducing "MijnPakket" (My Parcel), a new service giving online shoppers greater control and choice for orders that will be delivered by PostNL Parcels. MijnPakket gives shoppers an overview of all their online purchases. The new service also stores address and delivery preferences so that online shoppers no longer need to fill in those details for every webshop individually. This makes purchasing online even easier.

Source: PostNL                                      [more]

Use your smartphone to order a letter from Santa

Every year, Santa Claus receives hundreds of thousands of letters from all around the world, addressed to Santa's post office at the Finnish Arctic Circle. Since the 1990s, customers have also had the opportunity to order letters from Santa. Santa always keeps up with the times, and this Christmas Itella Posti Oy offers a new service: you can order a letter from Santa using your smartphone!

Source: Itella                                              [more]

Exemplary personnel policies at Deutsche Post DHL win multiple awards

Deutsche Post DHL has just received two awards for its human-resources policies. The Group's diversity management was honored with the first-ever German Diversity Award 2011, which was presented under the motto of "Thinking, Talking, Acting and Working Together - Diversity as an Opportunity." The award was sponsored by the German business magazine Wirtschaftswoche, the consultancy McKinsey&Company and the consumer business Henkel.The price was awarded in four categories to companies, individuals and innovative projects that encourage a working environment characterized by diversity in Germany.

Source: Deutsche Post                          [more]

The first postbuses with fuel cell drive operate in the Canton Aargau

PostBus is the first company in Switzerland to use fuel cell technology in public transport. After the timetable change in December 2011, PostBus routes in and around Brugg in the Canton Aargau will be serviced by fuel cell postbuses. Significant support is provided for this long-term test by various partners, such as the Canton Aargau, the Swiss Federal Office of Energy and the European Union.

Source: Swisspost                                [More]

Itella's second set of statutory labor negotiations concluded

Source: Itella                                          [more]

Itella Interim Report for January-September 2011

• Itella Group's net sales grew by 5% in July–September and totaled EUR 449.4 million (EUR 428.1 million in July-September 2010).
• Net sales increased in all business groups.
• The Group recorded an operating loss of EUR 21.5 million (operating profit of EUR 4.4 million), representing -4.8% (1.0%) of net sales. The operating result was weighed down by non-recurring expenses amounting to EUR 32.3 million (EUR 1.6 million), of which restructuring costs expenses related to the cost-cutting program initiated by the Group in August accounted for EUR 15.7 million and goodwill impairment for EUR 16.6 million. 

Source: Itella                                      [More]

Austrian Post acquires a 26% stake in PostMaster s.r.l., Romania

October 20, 2011 marked the closing of Austrian Post's acquisition of a 26% stake (including an option to increase this shareholding to 100% over the next two years) in the Romanian firm PostMaster s.r.l. After entering the Hungarian, Slovakian and Croatian letter mail markets, Austrian Post is now also represented in Romania. This comprises a further step in the company's growth strategy and an entry into one of the largest markets in the CEE region. The two parties have agreed not to disclose any details about the purchase price.

Source: Austrian Post

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Royal Mail Welcomes Ofcom’s Major Review

Royal Mail believes that the proposed new approach from Ofcom is a significant step towards securing the future of the six-day-a-week, one-price-goes anywhere Universal Service to 29 million UK homes and businesses. Ofcom notes in its review that the obligations that apply to Royal Mail in respect of the Universal Service exceed those that apply in most other countries in Europe.

Source: Royal Mail        

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Estonian Post has launched the Electronic Mail Centre service

Estonian post new Electronic Mail Centre enables to send and receive e-registered letters and to track their status. There is no need any more to print the registered letters, to envelope them and post in the post office.

Source: Eesti Post

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A Carbon Neutral Plenary Assembly supporting Reforestation

Key to postal leadership across the industry is the need to raise environmental and climate awareness across all activities as the postal industry continues to grow, diversify, innovate and touch the lives of millions of people. Leading by example, PostEurop has agreed to continue to hold a carbon neutral plenary assembly for the second consecutive year by partnering with South Pole Carbon Asset Management.

Cyprus Post winner of the EUROPA 2011 Jury Prize Competition

Cyprus Post EUROPA Stamp entry was named the winner of PostEurop‘s first ever EUROPA Jury Prize Competition which was held at the prestigious Brussels Town Hall, where an expert jury met and voted through closed ballot.

Swiss Post turns to solar power and electric vehicles

Swiss Post intends to install photovoltaic systems on the roofs of more than 20 of its business premises. It has also decided to make its fleet of letter delivery scooters entirely electric. These measures constitute part of the "pro clima" programme through which Swiss Post is channelling its commitment to climate protection. The basis for this is the sustainability strategy and its objective of reducing annual CO2 emissions by 15,000 tonnes by 2013. A series of additional measures undertaken throughout the company will help achieve this goal. This includes running 140 gas-powered delivery vehicles on 100 percent biogas, training drivers in the energy-saving "Eco-Drive" driving style and expanding the fleet of hybrid Postbuses by a further ten vehicles.

                                                         [More]

DHL leads the market with its new high-tech device for the pharmaceutical industry

DHL has taken a decisive step in expanding its services for the Life Science & Healthcare and other industries, placing it at the cutting edge of the market. DHL's SmartSensor GSM makes it possible to monitor the transport of highly sensitive shipments anytime and anywhere. In addition to measuring the temperature during transport, the new high-tech device also measures humidity, shocks, brightness and location.

                                                        [More]

Estonian Post ordinary letter price will change

Estonian Competition Authority has made a proposal to the Ministry of Economy Affairs and Communication to approve the increase of ordinary letter price by 10 Euro cents up to 0.45 cents.

Deutsche Post, StreetScooter GmbH and institutes of the University of Aachen developing own electric car for mail and parcel delivery

Deutsche Post and StreetScooter GmbH, together with prominent partners from research and industry, are developing a pioneering design for an electric car to be used for mail and parcel delivery. Prominent institutes of the RWTH Aachen University will also continue to be part of the project. The objective of this mutual endeavor is to create a completely new delivery vehicle that meets the special requirements of Deutsche Post in terms of suitability for daily operational use and economic efficiency. It should also be zero emissions. A drivable prototype is scheduled for the fall of 2012, and will be based on the "StreetScooter platform" created by StreetScooter GmbH, a spin-off company of the RWTH Aachen University.

Source: Deutsche Post DHL

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PostNL awarded global Supersector Leader in Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes

PostNL was awarded Supersector Leader for Industrial Goods and Services of the 2011 Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes (DJSI). This was the conclusion from the annual review performed by SAM, a sustainability investment specialist, which assessed the sustainability performance of listed companies on various economic, environmental and social criteria. PostNL will be included in the DJSI Europe and DJSI World, comprising of 342 companies that represent the top 10% of leading sustainability companies.

Source: PostNL

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Mats Lönnqvist new Executive Vice President at PostNord

Mats Lönnqvist has been appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer at PostNord.

Source: PostNord

                                                             [More]

Croatian Post achieves HRK 12.1 million net profit in first half of 2011

Total revenues amounted to HRK 801.5 million, which is a 1.4% increase, while monthly productivity per employee increased by 1.5% which amounts to HRK 12,469 per month

Itella Payment Services will become Itella Bank through a new license

On August 31, 2011, the Finnish Financial Supervisory Authority granted Itella IPS Ltd (Itella Payment Services), a subsidiary of Itella, a deposit bank license according to the Act on Credit Institutions. The license means that in addition to information and product flows, Itella Group will also be able to manage the related invoice and payment traffic more diversely than before.

Source: Itella                                    [More]

Itella Logistics develops its services in the U.S.

Itella Logistics and Mainfreight USA have agreed to start cooperation starting from September 2011. The relationship includes all eight Itella Logistics homeland countries. With this agreement, Itella Logistics strengthens its position as the service provider in road, air and sea freight forwarding as well as warehousing services and comprehensive logistics solutions in the U.S.

Source: Itella                                       [More]

Deutsche Post DHL encourages employee volunteerism around the world

For the first time, Deutsche Post DHL is calling on its employees, customers and business partners around the world to take part in this year's 'Global Volunteer Day'. Following the success of past years in which mainly employees in the Asia Pacific region helped to support local community projects, the Group is now rolling out the volunteer initiative on a global scale.

Source: Deutsche Post DHL                    [More]

Postnord - Challenging market reinforces need for additional changes

"PostNord’s development during the second quarter of 2011 is generally in line with the previous quarter. However, quarterly results were characterized by the challenging situation with a dramatic drop in volumes in Denmark and a more stable trend in Sweden." says Lars Idemark, CEO for Postnord

Source: Postnord                             [More]

Good Development in the First Half-year Underlines Positive Outlook for Austrian Post

•Increased revenue 

Revenue up 2.9% from the previous year on a comparable basis

Mail Division on a comparable basis +2.1%, Parcel & Logistics +6.2%

•Improved earnings

EBITDA of EUR 124.8m (margin of 11.0%)

EBIT +9.1% to EUR 81.3m

•Ongoing solid cash flow and balance sheet

Operating cash flow before changes in working capital up 15.5% to EUR 93.3m

Cash and cash equivalents of EUR 264.2m

•Outlook for 2011

Revenue in 2011: continuation of the development in the first half-year (+2.9%)
EBITDA margin at the upper end of the targeted range of 10–12%

Source: Austrian Post                     [More]

First PubliBike-Station commences a test run in Lucerne

Combined Mobility

PostBus, the SBB and Rent a Bike company have commenced operation of Switzerland’s first PubliBike-Station at the SBB railway station in Lucerne. PubliBike offers bicycles and E-Bikes for personal use and thereby completes the «last mile » in the transport and mobility chain. Initially, volunteers in the region are starting a test run of the first station in Lucerne, centrally positioned between the SBB train station and KKL. The inhabitants of Lucerne have hence been handed a pioneer role to play, as their feedback is of great value for the future of the PubliBike offer in Switzerland.

Source: Swiss Post

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Strong argument for letters

Seven out of ten private customers would like to continue receiving business correspondence such as invoices and salary statements in written form in future. These were the findings of surveys carried out by Swiss Post among individuals and business customers. The results prove that despite the new media the letter has a bright future owing to its stronger impact. As such, Swiss Post is convinced that the letter business will remain a strong pillar of the company in the long term.

Direct link to Survey Result

Source: Swiss Post

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Deutsche Post DHL: "Social Memories" receives design prize

Facebook app receives red dot award for communication design

The "Social Memories" Facebook application from Deutsche Post DHL - developed in cooperation with the Cosalux agency - received the prestigious red dot design award in the category of communication design. The jury of experts selected the application, launched in May of this year, from among numerous entries. They were especially impressed by the originality, emotionality and conciseness of the Social Memories application.

Source: Deutsche post DHL

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Encouraging Q2 results PostNL

Harry Koorstra, CEO of PostNL, states: "There is a positive development of all key parameters: the addressed mail volumes have developed in line with expectations, the process of consolidation in the Dutch market continues and the Enterprise Chamber has rejected all requests of the Works Council in their case against the reorganisations and as a consequence, we can now continue our Master plan implementation. Parcels delivers as promised and International's performance further improved with Germany on track to become profitable supported by a positive outcome of our German court case."

Source: PostNL
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Deutsche Post DHL markedly boosts profits in the second quarter of 2011 - full-year earnings guidance improved

During the second quarter of 2011, Deutsche Post DHL continued the strong performance it showed in the first three months of the year and remained firmly on its growth path. Group revenues climbed 0.3 percent to EUR 12.8 billion from April to June 2011 compared with the same period last year.

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PostNL sells its mail activities in Czech Republic and Slovakia to ID Marketing s.a.

PostNL has today completed the sale of its addressed and unaddressed Mail activities in the Czech Republic and Slovakia to ID Marketing.

                                                          [More]

European Postal Operators Exceeding Emission Targets

PostEurop published the "2010 Environmental Report" announcing that from 2007 to 2009; the 16 European Postal Operators participating in the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Programme recorded a total reduction of 465 thousand tonnes of CO2 collectively. This is a 15% reduction from 2007 to date, in which 2009 alone records a 13% reduction in emission.

                                                    [See more]

                                         [Download Report]

An Post App put the 'i' back into mail

An Post has put the ‘i’ back into mail with a newly launched iPhone App which brings post and post offices to your fingertips.

More

Swiss Post is becoming ever smarter

Swiss Post’s smartphone applications are very popular with customers. The applications from Swiss Post and PostFinance have been downloaded more than 150,000 times altogether in the space of just a few weeks. These "apps" are an example of Swiss Post’s pioneering role in bringing together physical and electronic postal services. Swiss Post’s knowledge in the area of information and communication technology (ICT) is internationally recognized. Yesterday (Thursday) in Berlin, CEO Jürg Bucher presented Swiss Post’s skills in this area to political and economic decision makers.

More

21st century stamps - Royal Mail launches the world’s first intelligent stamp

Combining state-of-the-art technology with history and heritage, Royal Mail is launching the world’s first ‘Intelligent Stamp’ through its latest issue of Special Stamps - Great British Railways.

More

Source: Royal Mail

De Post-La Poste becomes bpost

After ten years of major change and a few months ahead of the full liberalisation of the postal market De Post-La Poste is changing its name. De Post-La Poste will become bpost. The company’s corporate visual identity, including logo, will also be modernised. The change will be implemented as from September.

Source: De Post-LaPoste

European Postal Operators Tackled Delivery Disruption despite Volcano Woes

European Postal Operators were quick to respond to the delivery disruption of millions of letters and parcels throughout Europe and internationally when the European aviation crisis caused by the volcanic eruption in Iceland which began on Thursday, 15 April 2010.

PostEurop Welcomes Mr. Laszlo Szivi as New PostEurop Board Member

PostEurop is proud to welcome Mr. Laszlo Szivi from Magyar Posta as the new PostEurop Board Member and successor to Mr. Botond Szebeny.