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Rico Back, CEO of the Royal Mail between 2018 to 2020, has told The Sunday Times that the current board at the Royal Mail have wasted time and “not executed properly”.
Back claimed that current Royal Mail boss Simon Thompson, who had joined from Ocado, had no experience of running a big company and did not know the logistics industry. “Both together is a toxic mixture,” he told the Sunday Times.
Back added:
“They wasted time and have not executed properly. Posties understand the need to change, but it needs to be done in a social, friendly way. The board missed this opportunity and right now are on a more confrontational path, which is not necessary. Also, the chief executive has never run a big company and does not have knowledge of logistics. Both together is a toxic mixture.”
Back also commented on the possible sale of GLS:
“The board should understand and say, ‘If I want to stay in the UK, I’ve got to fix the UK, and I can fix it because Royal Mail is a great brand and has a great workforce and a great infrastructure, which I can use — it just needs to be sorted.’ To put a threat to the union and say ‘I’ll get the cash from GLS and sell it if you don’t behave properly’ is too simple. The miracle will not be there to solve the UK issue.”
Europe round up
We begin with express grocery delivery company Flink, which says it expects its German business to be profitable by the end of 2023, after achieving sales of €400mn last year.
In the UK, Royal Mail customers have been given a one-month warning regarding significant stamp validity changes. As of February, postal customers must use barcoded stamps with the Queen’s profile, or non-barcoded Christmas or special collection stamps.
Concluding today’s rather brief Europe update is the story of Turkish Technology and Industry Minister Mustafa Varank, who spent New Year’s Eve doing a stint for Getir as a delivery rider. The politician said he wanted to raise awareness about what couriers are going through in their jobs.
North America round up
Our North American summary starts with the news that FedEx will offer customers an easier returns process, featuring wider access to a network of locations for dropping off unwanted goods using a simple QR code.
Meanwhile, UPS has announced it is extending its residential delivery surcharges beyond peak season, a move that shows the mounting costs last mile delivery providers are grappling with.
In the express food delivery sector, recruitment appears a common theme. Domino’s, Pizza Hut and other pizzerias are working to recruit delivery drivers. Moreover, Grubhub founder Mike Evans has said his company is hiring full-time employees instead of only independent contractors.
Also in the express food delivery space, meal delivery giant Freshly has shut down, while Grubhub has been ordered to pay $3.5 million for misleading customers.
Last but not least, USPS says its preliminary data shows strong holiday performance across all mail categories.
North America round up
Our North American summary starts with the news that FedEx will offer customers an easier returns process, featuring wider access to a network of locations for dropping off unwanted goods using a simple QR code.
Meanwhile, UPS has announced it is extending its residential delivery surcharges beyond peak season, a move that shows the mounting costs last mile delivery providers are grappling with.
In the express food delivery sector, recruitment appears a common theme. Domino’s, Pizza Hut and other pizzerias are working to recruit delivery drivers. Moreover, Grubhub founder Mike Evans has said his company is hiring full-time employees instead of only independent contractors.
Also in the express food delivery space, meal delivery giant Freshly has shut down, while Grubhub has been ordered to pay $3.5 million for misleading customers.
Last but not least, USPS says its preliminary data shows strong holiday performance across all mail categories.
Your Last Mile Brief is co-produced by:
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