KESKO CORPORATION PRESS RELEASE 30.03.2012 AT 11.00 1(2)
Kesko and Itella have signed a cooperation agreement on the installation of Smartpost automatic parcel points in all of the current and future K-citymarkets by the end of 2013. Cooperation will support the development of e-commerce and help customer's daily transactions.
Smartpost parcel points are a new way of sending and receiving parcels where customers move. Customers can order their online purchases to the point of their choice and pick up the parcel conveniently when shopping for their daily needs. Smartpost parcel points will be installed in all K-citymarkets by the end of next year. There are currently 75 K-citymarkets in Finland.
"Our cooperation agreement will expand the network of Smartpost points to cover the whole country. Picking up parcels from K-citymarkets is easy and low-cost. Smartpost provides all online stores of the K-Group with a customer-oriented and cost-efficient delivery solution," says Ari Akseli, President of Anttila Oy and K-citymarket Oy.
"We want to make receiving parcels as easy as possible for consumers and that way support the development of e-commerce. This cooperation provides us with more benefits from our network of collection points, while making automatic parcel points available to an increasing number of consumers," says Aku Happo, Vice President, Itella Parcel Services.
This is how Smartpost works
The Smartpost automatic parcel point works as follows: When ordering something from an online store, the customer selects the preferred option where to pick up the parcel. When the parcel is ready to be picked up, the customer receives a text message with the code of the locker. When the code is entered at the point, the door of the locker will open and the parcel can be retrieved. Customers can also use Smartpost points for sending a parcel to another Smartpost parcel point or postal outlet of their choice in Finland as well as for paying for or returning parcels.
Last year, Itella opened a total of 50 new automatic parcel points in various parts of Finland. This year, 50 more will be opened and the first of them in June in the following locations: the Greater Helsinki area, Forssa, Heinola, Iisalmi, Imatra, Joensuu, Kajaani, Keminmaa, Kerava, Kotka, Lappeenranta, Lieksa, Lohja, Nokia, Pieksämäki, Pietarsaari, Porvoo, Raahe, Rauma, Riihimäki, Salo, Savonlinna, Ylöjärvi and Hamina.
Photos can be downloaded at http://aineistopankki.kesko.fi (http://aineistopankki.kesko.fi/)
Further information:
President Ari Akseli, Anttila Oy and K-citymarket Oy, tel. +358 10 53 23490
Vice President Aku Happo, Itella Parcel Services, tel. +358 40 5627065
Kesko (www.kesko.fi (file://pk20/NYHTEINEN/TOIMINN/Käännöspalvelut/ENGLANTI/Viestintä/Lehd.tiedotteet%202011/www.kesko.fi)) is a retail specialist whose stores offer quality to the daily lives of consumers. Kesko has about 2,000 stores engaged in chain operations in the Nordic and Baltic countries, Russia, and Belarus.
Itella Posti Oy provides mail services throughout Finland, including the deliveries of letters, publications and direct mail, in addition to parcel and express transport services, NetPosti, as well as Posti shops and outlets. Itella Posti Oy is part of the Itella Mail Communications business group, which reported net sales of MEUR 1,152 and employed 17,900 persons in 2011. Itella Mail Communications is part of Itella Group. www.itella.com (http://www.itella.com/).
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Source: Kesko Oyj via Thomson Reuters ONE
