Residents in Oxford are facing significant delays to parcel deliveries after a major courier firm, Pedal and Post, ceased trading without notice. The company's closure has had a knock-on effect on Evri, which relied on Pedal and Post for deliveries in the city's Clean Air Zone.
One affected resident, Carol Leonard, reported that parcels ordered in late January, including special cat food and litter, were not delivered until February 10, two weeks after they were placed. She said the items had been sitting at the depot despite being sent out for delivery.
An Evri spokesperson apologised for the disruption, stating: “We were disappointed to learn that our e-cargo bike delivery partner in Oxford ceased trading without notice, which caused some temporary disruption for a small number of customers in the local area. We have quickly re-organised deliveries in the area, and our local team are working hard to resume normal service.”
Pedal and Post CEO Christopher Benton confirmed that the company’s Oxford and London sites have closed, and its entire workforce of around 60 people has been made redundant. He attributed the closure to the loss of a major client earlier this year, though he declined to name the client, stating they had met contractual terms. He added that no financial details could be disclosed as liquidators are still involved.
Benton noted that the company had aimed to be an ethical employer in a primarily self-employed industry, but the loss of one major client made it unsustainable. He emphasised that the closure does not reflect on cargo bike use or logistics in general.
