Deutsche Post AG : Germany

With just under 300,000 employees and a turnover of more than DM 28 billion, Deutsche Post AG is one of the largest service enterprises in Europe. Each year it transports more than 20 billion letter mail and freight mail items to nearly any destination within the country or abroad. Until the end of the year 2002, Deutsche Post AG is to retain a monopoly for the transport of letters with a weight of up to 100 grams. More than 50 percent of its turnover is already generated in direct competition - especially with competing parcel services. In 1994, 1995 and 1996 it earned a profit on its operations.

Among the most important tasks confronting Deutsche Post AG are the restructuring of its operations and the development of new fields of activity. New product, distribution and logistics concepts have been developed for freight mail, letter mail and postal retail outlets. In mid-1995, 33 new freight mail centers were opened. Deutsche Post AG thus has one of the most modern parcel logistics systems in Europe. More than 80 percent of the parcels posted to destinations within the Federal Republic of Germany reach the recipient within 24 hours. Deutsche Post AG is breaking new ground in the area of letter mail service as well: By the end of 1998, 83 new highly automated letter mail centers will be built. In addition, the existing network of postal retail outlets will be supplemented by postal agencies (small outlets in local shops); these currently number about 4,500.