TNT to split mail, express businesses
Dutch transport giant TNT announced last month that it
would separate its mail and express businesses effective Jan.
1, 2011—a move that could trigger a bidding war among
the three largest express companies for TNT’s intra-European and inter-continental assets.
The announcement came in a statement disclosing TNT’s
second-quarter results, which included a solid performance
from its express division but weakness in its mail business.
TNT’s express business is focused on intra-European and
international operations linked to Europe; it has almost no
presence in the U.S. market, although it does operate a transAtlantic air-ground network with U.S. trucker Con-way Inc.
In the announcement, CEO Peter Bakker said separating
the mail and express businesses would enable the units “to
operate best-in-class in their respective industries by build-
ing on strong management and a solid capital structure to
successfully implement their strategies.”
Bakker said he remains cautious about the outlook for
the European economy, although he does expect to see a
“modest improvement” as the year progresses. Mail vol-
umes in TNT’s home market of the Netherlands are expect-
ed to fall between 7 and 9 percent, due to the impact of
postal deregulation, which took effect this year, and com-
petitive pressures from alternative products, Bakker said.
alliances
; Catch of the day. StarKist Co., the producer and distributor of seafood products, has named DSC Logistics its lead
logistics partner. DSC will manage the distribution of
StarKist’s canned and pouched tuna from the port of entry to
DSC’s logistics centers and then on to StarKist’s customers.
; A logistics Triumph. Ceva Logistics has signed a three-year
deal with Triumph Motorcycles to streamline, integrate, and
optimize the British motorcycle company’s international flow
of components, accessories, and finished motorcycles. Ceva
will handle ocean shipments of motorcycles and the movement of components from suppliers in Asia and Europe to
Triumph’s global manufacturing network.
; Just what the doctor ordered. OM HealthCare Logistics, a
business unit of Owens & Minor, is implementing RedPrairie’s
Warehouse Management solution at its third-party distribution facility. The software will manage the distribution of medical devices and pharmaceuticals.
; Taking a Q. British retailer Matalan is implementing
Quantum Retail’s Q software to optimize store-level replenishment activities. The Q solution will help the retailer react
to localized customer behavior and adjust its inventory
accordingly throughout its supply chain.
; Built tough. Ford Motor Co. has expanded its arrangement
with Penske Logistics to include logistics management services at Ford’s Dearborn, Mich., facility. Penske will provide
manufacturing support services at the plant, which builds the
F-Series of trucks. Services provided will include sequencing,
repack, and small-lot and container management.
; Made the team. Varsity Logistics, a provider of multi-carri-er shipping solutions, has entered into a strategic partnership with enterprise computing specialist Computer Alliance
to market Varsity’s suite of transportation management systems (TMS).
; Second helping. Congelados de la Hacienda, a food producer in Mexico, has installed a second automated storage
and retrieval system (AS/RS) from Westfalia Technologies at
its frozen food warehouse near Leon, Mexico. Along with the
second unit, the company installed Westfalia’s Savanna.NET
warehouse management software.
; Ship shape. Kewill is teaming up with UPS to deliver a single integrated platform that supports UPS package and UPS
freight services. The new UPS Solution kit provides Kewill
customers with integrated software for UPS ground, express,
and freight shipments.
