Almost 300 staff at Menzies Parcels are facing redundancy as parent company Menzies Distribution prepares to close down the loss-making business next month, writes Carol Millett.
Menzies Parcels employs around 270 staff and provides courier services to the Scottish Highlands, Islands, Grampians and Argyll. It operates 15 depots throughout Scotland and handles around 8,000 parcel deliveries and 800 parcel collections a day.
Staff at the business have been informed by management this week that the business is shutting down next month.
In a letter to staff the company stated: “The business has been incurring significant losses over the last two years and, having exhausted all other options, has come to the disappointing conclusion that it is no longer sustainable in its current form.
“Therefore, working with our employees and customers, we regret that the last day of business for Parcels Scotland will be 29 February 2024.”
Menzies Parcels has been struggling for some time, after losing a major client in May 2021. In its latest annual results to 31 December 2022, the company reported spiralling losses of – £3,221,000 (2021: – £788,000). Revenue also fell, from £22.6m to £19.6m in the period.
A Unite spokesperson told Transport News: “Unite is actively engaging with our members across Scotland affected by Menzies Parcels’ decision to make workers redundant.
”We will do all we can to support our members in this very difficult situation. This includes engaging with the company to explore how workers can find suitable alternative employment within the wider Menzies Group in order to minimise the impact of job losses.”
