Polish Parcel Giant InPost Acquires Yodel in 106m Pound Sterling Deal Creates Third Largest UK Delivery Network

The UK delivery landscape witnessed a significant shift today as Polish parcel locker specialist InPost announced its acquisition of British courier company Yodel in a £106m deal, establishing the third-largest independent delivery network serving British online retailers.

InPost, which pioneered its first locker system in Kraków during 2009, aims to merge its extensive drop-off and collection infrastructure with Yodel’s established home delivery operations. The strategic combination promises to deliver a unified brand offering both out-of-home and to-door delivery solutions.

The acquisition emerges following a challenging period for Yodel, which narrowly avoided collapse in February 2023. The company, previously owned by the Barclay brothers, required additional funding from new investors merely five months after its initial rescue.

Labour union GMB has expressed support for the takeover, which affects approximately 10,000 employees. GMB’s national lead organiser, Gill Ogilvie, welcomed the development, highlighting its potential to secure long-term stability for workers and reinvigorate Yodel’s competitive position.

The deal significantly expands InPost’s UK market presence, elevating its share from 2% to 8%. This expansion follows InPost’s recent acquisition of Menzies Distribution in October 2023. The combined operations are projected to handle over 300m parcels annually in the UK, serving more than 700 online retailers.

The transaction structure involves InPost acquiring 95.5% of Yodel’s parent company, Judge Logistics Ltd, through a debt-to-equity conversion valued at £106m. PayPoint will maintain a minority 4.5% stake. This strategic move positions the merged entity as a formidable competitor alongside Royal Mail and Evri in Britain’s evolving e-commerce delivery sector.