Name Change

Parcel delivery franchise Interlink Express had been rebranded DPD Local

Interlink Express, one of the UK’s largest franchise operations, was founded in the UK in 1979 and has been experiencing double digit growth for the last five years.

The company operates from 90 local depots around the UK and uses the same award winning technology and services as sister company DPD, but focuses on providing a more local service for shippers with smaller volumes.

Key differentiators

The change to DPD Local will enable the company to continue to grow and build on its key differentiators - local knowledge and service - while benefiting more directly from the strength of the DPD brand.

The new brand will carry the tagline ‘Your local delivery experts’ and emphasise the fact DPD Local is part of the DPD Group.

As part of the rebrand, DPD Local will retain the core Interlink Express proposition, including its ‘try before you buy’ offer of 100 free parcels for new customers, but will also expand its services to include new international services, the Your DPD app, the DPD Pickup parcel shop network and new bulk upload tools for shippers using marketplaces like eBay.

The project will be completed by October 2017.

Huge leap

Dwain McDonald, DPD’s CEO, says: “This is a huge leap forward for Interlink Express and DPD Group. The combination of the Interlink Express proposition and the strength of the DPD brand and breadth of services is a compelling one.

“DPD is one of the European parcel delivery super brands now and it makes sense to invest further in that brand.

“The move will bring Interlink Express more into line with the DPD Group, but enable it to continue to focus on what it does best - providing a great local service with nationwide, and increasingly, global reach.

“Interlink Express is a hugely successful business, so we aren’t looking to change the core proposition. But it will make it much easier for Interlink Express to integrate with existing DPD services.”

While DPD has historically run two different brands in the UK, they’ve shared services and had dual branded depots in certain locations for years.

Dwain adds: “We already have a very close working relationship with lots of economies of scale, but it’s important DPD Local remains a separate entity with a clear and distinct proposition.

“The connection between the local depot, their customer services staff and local businesses is an incredibly strong one. All we want to do is back that proposition with one of the most recognisable brands in the UK and Europe.”