Zuvo competition boosts the market
Distribution Three or even more early delivery companies plan a day delivery - possibly even by post.
Distribution Three or even more early delivery companies are planning a daily delivery service - possibly even with the post office Because the early delivery organization of Schaffhauser Nachrichten (SN) has had to live with competition from Zuvo, the delivery company of Tamedia and NZZ, in economic area 42 since the beginning of the year, SN publisher Norbert Neininger is now stepping on the gas. In December, he turned the SN department into an independent company and called it Schazo. "Our sales department is just as much a part of our multimedia concept as the newspaper, radio, TV and online portal," says Neininger. He continues: "We want to become the logistics partner for the region, for example in the area of direct advertising, the distribution of product samples or articles ordered via the Internet. "However, the SN publisher is also aware that this could go beyond the possibilities of early delivery, which is why he is thinking aloud about daytime delivery as a second mainstay. To this end, he is opening up Schazo to partners. He is holding concrete talks with APZ, the delivery organization of the free weekly newspaper Schaffhauser Bock - and with Swiss Post, of all companies, which he is likely to compete with one day.
However, Neininger is not the only one planning a daily delivery service. Zuvo is also considering one (see p. 18). However, Basler Zeitung Medien (BZM) is the furthest along, as it already has a corresponding organization in Distriba, the delivery company for the BZM free paper Baslerstab, which is even on the road five times a week. "We are also thinking about expanding our range of services," says BZM CEO Beat Meyer.
But how is Swiss Post facing up to the coming competition? "In view of the opening markets, Swiss Post is examining a wide range of options," says Swiss Post spokesman Laurent Widmer, who then confirms talks "with various publishers". He won't say any more. However, two years ago Swiss Post was already offering publishers certain tasks such as emptying letterboxes or the mutual exchange of staff in the event of bottlenecks (body leasing). Does this still apply? "We are open to various forms of cooperation, including participations," says Widmer simply.
Swiss Post shareholdings in delivery companies are nothing new. Swiss Post owns 50 percent of the early distribution organization Bevo in Berne, while Tamedia and Espace Media each hold 25 percent. At Epsilon in French-speaking Switzerland, Swiss Post owns as much as 66 percent, while Edipresse holds 34 percent. Swiss Post also holds a 50 percent stake in Direct Mail Company, the largest existing daily delivery company.
Markus Knöpfli
However, Neininger is not the only one planning a daily delivery service. Zuvo is also considering one (see p. 18). However, Basler Zeitung Medien (BZM) is the furthest along, as it already has a corresponding organization in Distriba, the delivery company for the BZM free paper Baslerstab, which is even on the road five times a week. "We are also thinking about expanding our range of services," says BZM CEO Beat Meyer.
But how is Swiss Post facing up to the coming competition? "In view of the opening markets, Swiss Post is examining a wide range of options," says Swiss Post spokesman Laurent Widmer, who then confirms talks "with various publishers". He won't say any more. However, two years ago Swiss Post was already offering publishers certain tasks such as emptying letterboxes or the mutual exchange of staff in the event of bottlenecks (body leasing). Does this still apply? "We are open to various forms of cooperation, including participations," says Widmer simply.
Swiss Post shareholdings in delivery companies are nothing new. Swiss Post owns 50 percent of the early distribution organization Bevo in Berne, while Tamedia and Espace Media each hold 25 percent. At Epsilon in French-speaking Switzerland, Swiss Post owns as much as 66 percent, while Edipresse holds 34 percent. Swiss Post also holds a 50 percent stake in Direct Mail Company, the largest existing daily delivery company.
Markus Knöpfli
