Postcomm consults on an interim licence for Express Dairies

24 May 2002

Postcomm today began consultation on the proposed issue of a short-term licence to Express Ltd (Express), a subsidiary of Express Dairies plc.

Express is seeking a licence to trial the delivery of packets and letters from businesses to householders. They would be delivered by the company’s milk delivery network. If granted, the licence would be for 12 months and would limit the number of items to be carried to 4.6 million a year. By comparison Royal Mail delivers around 80 million items a day.

Express currently delivers to around 1.5 million households a day and 26,000 businesses. As well as milk and other products, each year the company also delivers 12.8 million leaflets and catalogues for itself and others.

Notes for Editors

The deadline for responses to the consultation is 24 June 2002.

The licence is for a minimum of 12 months, but may be surrendered by the licensee at any time. After 12 months it can be terminated by Postcomm giving three months notice.