Hermes has revealed the timescale for some of its expansion plans throughout 2013 and 2014, in what it hopes will deliver a capacity uplift of around a third.

Speaking at the Mail & Express Delivery Show in London yesterday (25 June), sales director Gary Winter said the carrier is currently doubling its network of hubs to four. Its 340,000 ft² hub will be open in the next six weeks, while its £25m Warrington hub is on track to be operational by April 2014.

In addition to this, Hermes plans to open three new depots in Bridgwater in Somerset, Enfield and Liverpool next year, as well as extending its existing depots in Perth and Birmingham.

Winter said: “Our capacity for 2013 will be well over double what it was for peak 2012. This growth in the market is actually one of the most challenging things for us and [we] have to pour a lot more money and a lot more concrete into this.”

He added that Hermes has forecast to handle a total of 187 million parcels in 2013, up from 163 million last year.