DPD UK have acquired longstanding final mile courier company Absolutely, to further strengthen its same day delivery capabilities across the UK.
Absolutely operates across the South East, with a fleet of circa 200 couriers servicing more than 2,500 clients. These range from fashion brands and health organisations to law firms and media businesses. Its fleet includes an expanding number of zero-emission vehicles, such as cargo bikes and pushbikes, alongside vans and motorbikes. Its offer also includes temperature controlled courier services.
This move follows DPD UK’s acquisition of CitySprint, the UK’s premier same day delivery company, in 2022 and further enables DPD UK to capitalise on this rapidly growing segment of the delivery market.
As well as accessing CitySprint’s UK wide same day network – which offers a geographical reach to over 88% of the mainland population within 60 minutes – the acquisition means Absolutely customers will be able to leverage DPD UK’s domestic next day and international expertise.
How Wickes use Same Day Capability to differentiate service
With over 230 Wickes stores across the country, CitySprint provide local delivery services from stock held across Wickes’ network of local stores. The ‘smart fulfilment’ allows the fast and convenient delivery of Wickes’ trade quality DIY and home improvement products to customers and tradespeople all over the UK.
While with Wickes you can’t order same day, you can order next day or any chosen day in the future. On the day of delivery, a CitySprint courier arrives at your local Wickes to pick up your order and an hour or so later will be on your doorstep with your delivery.
Comparing Wickes to other DIY retailers, their competition are charging £20 delivery for bulk items with a minimum £100 order value, and with no promise as to the delivery date. Competitors charge substantially more than the £7 delivery charge at Wickes with CitySprint (which drops to £4 or £2.50 for smaller lighter products or even free for larger orders), for a lesser service demonstrating the economy and flexibility that same day carriers can bring to a business.
This capability will be increasingly important for retailers as they trade in an ever more competitive market. Same Day delivery service adds an edge to Wickes’s proposition and that’s why DPD are building on their CitySprint acquisition with the addition of Absolutely.
We’re delighted to welcome the Absolutely team to our UK business. Same day delivery is one of the fastest growing segments of the logistics market and this move allows us to further strengthen and expand our offer in this area, following the acquisition of CitySprint last year. Looking ahead, DPD UK is strongly positioned to meet this rising demand and consolidate our place as a market leader in same day delivery.
– Elaine Kerr, CEO, DPD UK
We are very excited to become part of the DPD UK family. With a long history in the industry, we know that same day delivery is essential for keeping businesses of all sizes moving. This move is great news for our existing customers, and we look forward to offering them access to DPD’s broader range of services in due course. But for now, it’s very much business as usual.
– Stuart Godman, CEO, Absolutely
