International Distribution Services Ltd - Company Profile
Powered by 
All the sales intelligence you need on International Distribution Services Ltd in one solution.
- Save hours of research time with a comprehensive
Sales Intelligence Solution.
- Understand how International Distribution Services Ltd fits into your total
addressable market and Ideal Customer Profile.
- Gain competitive edge with triggers that tell you
when and how to engage with International Distribution Services Ltd.
Get in touch about GlobalData Company reports
Contact the team or request a demo to find out how our data can drive your business forward
International Distribution Services Ltd (IDS), formerly Royal Mail Plc, operates as an international postal and delivery service provider. Its primary activities include the collection, sorting, and delivery of letters and parcels. The company's major services are offered through its two principal operations: Royal Mail and Parcelforce Worldwide in the UK, and General Logistics Systems (GLS) internationally. The company's services cater to customers, companies, and countries, connecting them through reliable and convenient postal services. The company operates throughout the UK and in approximately 40 countries and nation states, predominantly in Europe and North America. IDS is headquartered in London, England, the UK.
Headquarters
United Kingdom
Address
185 Farringdon Road, London, England, EC1A1AA
No of Employees
152,222
Industry
Transport and Logistics
Revenue (2025)
$16.8B
International Distribution Services Ltd premium industry data and analytics
Products and Services
| Services | Brands |
|---|---|
| Postal and Delivery Services | Royal Mail |
| Tracking Services | Parcelforce Worldwide |
| General Logistics Systems (GLS) |
History
History section provides information on new products, mergers, acquisitions, expansions, approvals, and many more key events.
| Year | Event | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Contracts/Agreements | In May, the company extended its partnership with Vinted to deliver Vinted parcels to both home addresses and its expanding parcel point network. |
| 2026 | New Products/Services | In February, the company introduced its first parcel lockers in Northern Ireland. |
| 2025 | Acquisitions/Mergers/Takeovers | In September, the company acquired a 49% stake in Drop and Collect (Collect+). |
Competitor Comparison
| Key Parameters | International Distribution Services Ltd | DHL Group | United Parcel Service Inc | FedEx Corp | PostNL NV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | United Kingdom | Germany | United States of America | United States of America | Netherlands |
| City | London | Bonn | Atlanta | Memphis | Den Haag |
| State/Province | England | Nordrhein-Westfalen | Georgia | Tennessee | Zuid-Holland |
| No. of Employees | 152,222 | 579,479 | 460,000 | 237,000 | 31,531 |
| Entity Type | Private | Public | Public | Public | Public |
Executives
| Name | Position | Board | Since | Age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Martin Seidenberg | Director; Chief Executive Officer | Executive Board | 2023 | 53 |
| Michael David Snape | Group Chief Financial Officer; Director | Executive Board | 2024 | 47 |
| Daniel Kretinsky | Chairman | Executive Board | 2025 | 51 |
| Alistair Cochrane | Chief Executive Officer - Royal Mail | Senior Management | 2025 | - |
| Karl Plaff | Chief Executive Officer - GLS | Senior Management | 2023 | - |
| Non Dignissim Eros | Proin vel | Convallis | 2026 | XY |
| Non Dignissim Eros | Proin vel | Convallis | 2026 | XY |
| Non Dignissim Eros | Proin vel | Convallis | 2026 | XY |
Still looking?
Have you found what you were looking for? From start-ups to market leaders, uncover what they do and how they do it.
Explorer
Access more premium companies when you subscribe to Explorer