Are parcelforce and royal mail the same

Parcelforce and Royal Mail are two separate companies, but they are closely related and share a common history.

Royal Mail is the UK's official postal service, responsible for delivering mail and parcels throughout the country. It was established in 1516 and is one of the oldest postal services in the world.

Parcelforce, on the other hand, is a parcel delivery company that was founded in 1966 as a subsidiary of Royal Mail. Its primary function is to handle the delivery of parcels and packages, both domestically and internationally.

Although Parcelforce is a separate company, it is still owned by Royal Mail and operates under the same brand umbrella. In fact, Parcelforce is often referred to as Royal Mail's parcel delivery arm.

Here are some key similarities and differences between Parcelforce and Royal Mail:

Similarities:

  1. Both are responsible for delivering mail and parcels in the UK.
  2. They share a common history and are owned by the same parent company, Royal Mail.
  3. They use similar infrastructure and logistics to deliver mail and parcels.

Differences:

  1. Focus: Royal Mail focuses on delivering mail, including letters, postcards, and small packets, while Parcelforce specializes in delivering larger parcels and packages.
  2. Services: Royal Mail offers a range of services, including First Class and Second Class mail, while Parcelforce offers a range of parcel services, including tracked and signed-for options.
  3. Pricing: Parcelforce tends to be more expensive than Royal Mail for larger parcels and packages, due to its specialized services and infrastructure.

In summary, while Parcelforce and Royal Mail are separate companies, they are closely related and share a common history. Parcelforce is a parcel delivery company that operates under the Royal Mail brand umbrella, and it specializes in delivering larger parcels and packages.