Fastway Couriers

Trade name

| Fastway Couriers
Formerly| HB Couriers
Company type| Private
Industry| Courier
Founded| 1983
Founder| Bill McGowan[1]

Area served

| Ireland
United Kingdom (NI only)
South Africa
Brands| Parcel Connect
Website| www.fastway.ie
www.fastwayni.co.uk
www.fastway.org

Fastway Couriers (formerly trading as HB Couriers[2]) is a courier delivery services company founded in Napier, New Zealand.[3] At the peak of its service, Fastway operated delivery services in New Zealand, Australia, Ireland and South Africa.[4] The company currently operates in Ireland and South Africa.[5]

The company has operated using a franchise model since 1983,[6] with franchising at the regional and courier level; regional franchises are responsible for managing the sales support and depots facilities in their region, while each courier franchise manages a courier route.

Each country with Fastway operations also has a master franchisee, who is responsible for providing the money needed to established Fastway operations, and managing the inter-city transportation of parcels.[7] Fastway Global LTD owns the Fastway branding and provides initial training to the Fastway master franchisee of each country.[8]

Fastway Global LTD also owns the Parcel Connect branding - a booking platform for Fastway Services targeted as consumers.[9] Parcel Connect currently operates in Australia, New Zealand and Ireland.[10][11][12]

In 2016, the company's New Zealand and Australia operations and all associated assets (including domains, contracts, and depots) were acquired by Aramex.[13][14] As part of the acquisition by Aramex, most Fastway operations have been rebranded to Aramex in Australia and New Zealand.[15] Branding of Fastway remained unchanged in other countries.

In 2022, London private equity company Elysian Capital took ownership of Fastway's Irish operations, becoming Ireland's Master Franchisee.[16] In early 2023, South African logistics company City Logistics and Clearwater Capital partnered to purchase the existing Master Franchisee rights in South Africa.[17][18]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "The Fast Way To Foreign Markets", IDM
2. ^ Harris, Catherine (21 January 2016). "Fastway Couriers sold to Dubai-based Aramex for $125m". Stuff. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
3. ^ "Fastway Couriers celebrate 35 years of growth in courier business". The New Zealand Herald. 14 April 2018. Retrieved 29 August 2022.
4. ^ "Our evolution". 14 December 2013. Archived from the original on 14 December 2013. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
5. ^ "Fastway Couriers unites to celebrate 30 years". Franchise New Zealand. 26 September 2013. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
6. ^ "Fastway Couriers (Australia)". Inside Franchise Business. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
7. ^ "Our structure". fastway.org. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
8. ^ "Home". fastway.org. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
9. ^ "FAQs | Parcel Connect". www.parcelconnect.ie. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
10. ^ "Welcome to Parcel Connect". www.parcelconnect.ie. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
11. ^ "Parcel Connect New Zealand - Homepage". www.parcelconnect.co.nz. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
12. ^ "Parcel Connect Australia - Parcel Connect Australia". www.parcelconnect.com.au. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
13. ^ "Courier service sold to Dubai-based Aramex - NZ Herald". www.nzherald.co.nz. Archived from the original on 23 February 2018. Retrieved 26 July 2017.
14. ^ Aramex to acquire Australasian express & courier firm Fastway Australasian Transport News March 2016 page 15
15. ^ Our brand story, 8 July 2019, retrieved 25 December 2023
16. ^ "London private equity firm backs buyout of Irish group Fastway Couriers". The Irish Times. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
17. ^ "Fastway Couriers | City Logistics & Clearwater Capital acquires Fastway Couriers (South Africa)". www.fastway.co.za. Retrieved 25 December 2023.
18. ^ "Fastway South Africa scooped up by logistics giant — with plans to boost Alibaba deliveries".