With the festive retail season rapidly building up, leading UK B2C delivery company DPD has announced its plans for the coming surge in business. It estimates that it will see a spike of over 30% during the next couple of months compared to last year.

This is down to two major factors – the UK economy is returning to strength after nearly a decade since the global financial crisis and the face of retail is changing. Where the economy is racing ahead it is only growing by around 2%, which does not in itself suggest a spike in volumes. E-commerce is taking a large chunk off high street retailers and this, combined with the strengthening economy is increasing business for delivery companies.

DPD has hired 1000 seasonal staff for the festive rush to compensate for the projected increase in volumes. It has also opened a new sorting centre in Hinckley that should increase the company’s capacity by 65%, and has hired 950 new drivers with permanent contracts to manage the change in the way UK consumers shop.

DPD has also opened four new ‘super depots’ in Stoke, Exeter, Cardiff and Dagenham that increases the company’s available floor space by 75% to 2.8 million square feet this year. Additionally it is working with 2500 shops so customers can pick up and drop off goods for DPD’s clients.

DPD has also started to pick up and deliver parcels on a Sunday, which is often more convenient for customers who thereby have a greater choice as to when to have their goods delivered. Being a 24/7 operation there are no pauses in the company’s work, and this improves the company’s output.

Reflecting the changing face of the market, DPD is changing to suit the demands of its clients as the changes taking place are for the medium to long term – not just for Christmas.