Jersey Post set to acquire freight company

Tuesday 05 January 2021

Jersey Post is set to acquire a local freight and delivery company as part of a plan to diversify its offering as traditional mail volumes continue to decline.

Established in 2015 in response to the difficulties and cost of transporting goods between the Channel Islands and the UK and Europe, Woodside Logistics went on to establish warehousing and shipping depots in Guernsey and the UK.

Explaining the rationale behind the acquisition Jersey Post Group CEO Tim Brown said: "Worryingly, covid-19 has greatly accelerated the continued decline in our traditional letter mail, and we are now seeing around 20% less volume.

"However, it has also highlighted a range of new strategic opportunities, most notably in the movement of goods and merchandise in and out of the Island, that will help to underpin our core operation and provide longer-term sustainability for this service.

"Whilst the proposed acquisition enables us to complete our strategic objective of providing a unique end-to-end logistics solution for customers across the globe, it will also bring increased competition, greater choice and an enhanced freight service for our valued local customers."

Woodside Logistics owner Charlie Gallichan added: “This represents a really exciting opportunity for Woodside Logistics. Since 2015, we have worked hard to establish what is now an excellent, cost-effective and timely range of services between the UK and the Channel Islands. Through this new relationship, Woodside will now be able to leverage established European networks and shipping options, customs clearance expertise and a global network of partners that will greatly increasing our reach for imports and exports and provide significantly more choice for customers both on and off-island.”

The acquisition is expected to complete in February and no changes to staffing are expected as a result.

It comes after Jersey Post - which has invested £7m in its postal business over the past five years, including updating its fleet to electric vehicles and IT improvements - took on local marketplace website Fetch.je in November.

Following the acquisition, Jersey Post - which previously provided the infrastructure and delivery work for Fetch.je - said it was are planning to revamp the website and launch a new mobile app.