Post Office (PO) branches will offer multiple parcel delivery services later this month, including Royal Mail, DPD and Evri.

The partnership will create ‘more opportunities’ for postmasters, following a trial of in-branch sales, parcel pick-ups and drop-offs at 50 PO branches. The company said it is adapting to ‘changing’ consumer demands.

PO CEO Nick Read said the move is “fundamentally transforming” the company.

“This expanded partnership with DPD and Evri shows how we are disrupting the mails market to offer greater choice for customers and more opportunities for Postmasters as we build a Post Office fit for the future,” he said.

Customers will now be able to send, collect and return Evri parcels at more than 2,000 PO branches in the UK. It is also the first time customers can hand an Evri parcel to a PO staff member for label and address application, rather than using a self-service machine.

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The PO said it has taken these steps to adapt to the delivery market that is ‘evolving rapidly’ and companies like DPD and Evri are ‘gaining significant ground’.

The PO also has plans to partner with other delivery carriers going forward, after finding that almost half (48%) of parcel senders want more delivery providers to choose from at one location when sending parcels.

Martijn de Lange, CEO at Evri, said: “We’re committed to delivering a high-quality, convenient, and reliable service and this partnership offers our cost-effective options, with great quality benefits such as tracking as standard, within the Post Office’s expansive network to reach more communities. Our international services will be available at selected Post Office counters.”

Elliot Jacobs, postmaster and non-executive director at Post Office, said the move is “essential” for PO’s customers, and will bring more traffic to high streets.

“We’ve seen a broader demographic coming through our doors since partnering with Evri and DPD for PUDO and Parcels Online, and it’s made a significant difference,” he said. “With the new buy-in-branch service, we can finally offer our customers the convenience of choosing from a range of carriers, all in one place.”

The collaboration with DPD and Evri is part of the PO’s Mails Strategy which has already introduced Click & Collect, Customer Drop Off and Customer Return Points, and Parcels Online.

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Neill O’Sullivan, managing director of Parcels and Mails at Post Office, said: “Post Office is innovating to meet changing customer preferences and the increasingly competitive market. Our goal is to deliver unparalleled access to parcel services, addressing the needs of businesses and retail customers, both now and in the future.

“Our new buy-in-branch service reflects how Post Office has adapted as a business to ensure our customers now have access to multiple delivery carriers and services conveniently in their local Post Office. It’s very exciting to have major carriers DPD and Evri as our launch partners for this new service which will be rolled out across branches over the coming months. We will continue to innovate to provide a broader range of options to suit customer needs through our extensive network.

“Our buy-in-branch parcel service will not only widen delivery choice for our customers but our in-person service provided by our dedicated postmasters will also give them additional peace-of-mind knowing their parcels will be taken care of and arrive safely.

“Our ongoing partnership with Royal Mail remains of utmost significance to us, and this announcement further enhances the Post Office’s pivotal role as an indispensable one-stop hub for communities where our valued customers can confidently participate in a wide array of face-to-face transactions, all while enjoying the exceptional assistance and support we provide.”

Elaine Kerr, CEO at DPD UK, said: “Buy-in-branch extends our working relationship with the Post Office and will help provide more choice and convenience for UK parcel shippers. DPD parcel recipients can already collect their parcels from Post Office branches and regard them as safe and trusted locations for a wide range of services. The new service will help reinforce the unique position the branches have and, for the first time, give face-to-face parcel customers genuine choice over how they ship.”