Purchase is designed to establish a direct retail logistics, print and copy presence in the UK and Ireland and open up new opportunities
MBE Worldwide has acquired Mail Boxes Etc. (UK) from the former master licensee.
The move means the UK and Republic of Ireland has been added to the shipping, fulfilment, print and marketing specialist’s community of ‘directly operated’ countries, comprising Italy, Spain, Germany, France, Poland, Portugal, US, Canada, Australia and the Netherlands.
MBE UK & Ireland was founded in 1993 and currently has 153 service centres offering shipping, print and mail box services.
It will retain its current management team, while its headquarters will remain in Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire.
Simon Cowie, chairman of Mail Boxes Etc. (UK), says: “This is an exciting development for the MBE UK & Ireland franchise system.
“Combining forces with MBE Worldwide creates unique opportunities for synergy with our colleagues, harnessing their strong franchise-based experience to support our franchise network and grow our business in the UK & Ireland.
Paolo Fiorelli, chairman and CEO - MBE Worldwide, says: “MBE UK & Ireland is an excellent addition to our directly operated countries because of its entrepreneur driven, people centric, customer first business model, which embodies our MBE business and culture.
“We welcome and are excited to work even closer with the team to provide high value solutions to our business and consumer customers in the UK & Ireland market.”
The change is also good news for prospective franchisees, according to MBE UK’s marketing manager, James Simmons.
He says: “This is a great time to join the MBE network in the UK or Ireland - entrepreneurs will be reassured by the size, strength and expertise brought by MBE Worldwide.”
MBE Worldwide operates under different complementary brands, including Mail Boxes Etc. (except the US and Canada), AlphaGraphics, PostNet, Spedingo.com, Print Speak, Pack & Send and Multicopy.
The total number of MBE service centres operating under the Mail Boxes Etc. brand is 1,667 out of 2,800 service centres in 53 countries worldwide.