APC Overnight has passed a major sortation milestone by processing more than 101,015 parcels a night, just as the Christmas rush gets into full swing. Volumes are up by over 10,000 parcels a night as more companies switch to APC Overnight because of its higher levels of customer service and delivery reliability. In particular, shipments of perishable and delicate goods such as food and drink, popular around Christmas, have seen an increase as more companies choose APC's special "Handled with Care" services.  

To ensure a record number of parcels reach their nationwide destinations, additional resources have been implemented at the APC's National Sortation Hub in Wolverhampton and at its dedicated Scottish Sortation Hub in Bellshill. The network's local depots throughout the UK have also called in additional assistance.

Wine specialists Berry Bros. & Rudd,  Slurp, Tanners, The Colchester Wine Company and ND John Wine Merchants rely on  the next day Wine Delivery Service, one of the portfolio of Handled with Care services, to fulfil customer mail orders and online sales, and with Christmas on the horizon their orders are booming. Cider maker H Weston & Sons and Wye  Valley Brewery also appreciate the reliability of the service.  

Food companies using APC's special services include fresh meat,  fish, cheese, pies, jam and chutney, and confectionery suppliers. Kernowsashimi, Well Hung Meat, Chestnut Meats, J W Mettrick & Son, pieminister, The Cheese  Society and Gower Cottage Brownies are among the companies relying on APC's next  day deliveries. APC also delivers wild herbs, fruits and vegetables foraged in Cornwall to London's top hotels and restaurants, including The Ivy, The Goring Hotel and Paternoster Chop House. 

In the lead-up to Christmas  2010, APC successfully delivered more parcels than ever on time, even with snow  and ice affecting UK roads. Customers flooded the network with emails thanking  APC for getting their parcels delivered and made appreciative comments about how hard the depots and their drivers worked in spite of the road conditions due to heavy snowfalls and thick ice. 

"Christmas is our busiest period of  the year and we expect to process and deliver significantly higher volumes of  parcels than any previous year - despite any bad weather that may hit the UK. To maximise the strength of our service an additional Number people will join the team at our national sortation hub and our local depot partners are employing extra resources to ensure that parcels are delivered. APC Overnight and its 120 plus depot network is in a better position than any other parcel courier to provide exceptional service to its customers this Christmas," said APC's  Managing Director, Ivor  Skinner.