CitySprint

Parcel carrier CitySprint saw delivery volumes drop in London during the Games.

The company, which handles B2B and consumer deliveries, made 75,000 deliveries to London postcodes during the Games. This was a 12% drop in volume compared with the 16 days proceeding the event (23 June to 7 July).

Patrick Gallagher, chief executive of CitySprint, suggests the threat of traffic and congestion, as well as more people working from home during the period, likely reduced demand for couriers.

However, the firm’s pushbike service saw a surge in demand during the Olympics compared with the corresponding period last year, with delivery volume 27% higher.

It’s jogger and rollerblade couriers also performed well, he says.

“We’ve spent a lot of time preparing for the Olympic period so it’s great that our hard work has paid off. We’re proud off how hard all our couriers have worked to minimise the impact on our customers.”

Pallet networks Pall-Ex and Pallet-Track also say volumes dipped in the capital during the Olympics.

Pall-Ex saw volume fall 6.2% year-on-year within London during the period, despite  net growth nationally of 4.8%.

Pallet-Track boss Nigel Parkes says he was “surprised that it was not higher in volumes than anticipated”.

Operators are being reminded of the impending Paralympics, which will bring its own delivery challenges in East London next month.

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