Parcel deal gets go-ahead

The acquisition of DHL Express (UK)’s domestic business-to-business and business-to-consumer packet and parcel delivery business by Shaw-based Home Delivery Network has been cleared by the Office of Fair Trading.

The purchase, via HDN’s wholly-owned subsidiary Parcelpoint Ltd, was announced in January.

HDN, which has a major operation in Oldham, said the deal would create a group delivering more than 180 million parcels a year and with sales of more than £600 million. The purchase price was not disclosed.

Split from sister company Shop Direct last year by owners Sir David and Sir Frederick Barclay, HDN has a base in Whiston on Merseyside but the national sortation centre employs 210 people at Shaw. The group also has depots in Little Hulton, Bolton and Woolston near Warrington.

HDN said there would be job losses among the 4,700 staff employed by DHL Domestic, which has 71 service centres, a headquarters in Heathrow and hubs in Manchester, Bristol, Leeds, Hatfield and the Midlands.

HDN’s clients list includes Argos, Tesco, Sainsbury’s and M&S.