Fastway chasing internet sellers

Fastway Couriers has changed its well known logo as it targets the burgeoning internet retail sales industry.

With the original logo of a man running with parcels penned almost 30 years ago, Fastway New Zealand chief executive Bruce Speers said the brand refresh represented a new era for the company.

"As the online retail sector continues to boom, Fastway Couriers is uniquely situated to offer a world-beating last mile solution to online retailers. The changes to our branding will help portray this new focus," he said.

New software and customer products would be rolled out early next year.

Mr Speers said online retailing was transforming the courier industry.

"Residential areas were seen as unprofitable - all that is changing fast."

A main target is New Zealand Post customers.

"The default in the past has been New Zealand Post. We want to break that default."

He said "major inroads" had been made with many online retailers but identifying who the main Trade Me-type retailers were was sometimes difficult because they often operated from family homes.

Hawke's Bay-based Fastway Couriers has grown to become the world's largest courier franchise organisation.

Established in New Zealand in 1983, it currently has about 1600 franchisees and 120 regional depots across Australia, New Zealand, England, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Germany and South Africa.