Evri, one of the UK’s largest dedicated parcel delivery companies, has announced a two-year extension to its delivery contract with Debenhams Group, the online retailer behind brands including boohoo, Karen Millen, PrettyLittleThing and, of course, Debenhams.
The new contract builds on a long-standing relationship between Evri and Debenhams Group, which has been in place since 2014. It establishes Evri as one of the Group’s key delivery partners, supporting its transition to a marketplace model offering consumers a huge range of brands across fashion, homes and lifestyle, supported by a fast and flexible delivery service.
Debenham’s customers will benefit from Evri’s new locker strategy, which gives shoppers more choice over how they receive their orders to suit their daily schedules. The company has announced a planned investment of £50 million into this, as it looks to more than double its network of ParcelShops and Lockers by 2030, reaching 25,000 locations.
Record volumes of parcels
The news of this renewed partnership comes as Evri delivered a record 807m parcels in its most recent financial year – with volume expected to increase next year due to expansion of both companies’ businesses. David Saenz, Chief Commercial Officer, Evri,said: “In what has been over a decade of working together, it’s been incredible for both businesses to grow alongside one another, and this is evidenced in the increased volume of parcels we are forecasting to deliver to their customers this year.
He added: “This is an exciting time for Evri, as we invest in doubling our ParcelShop and locker network by 2030, as well as the announcement of our proposed merger with DHL eCommerce UK, all of which makes it particularly special for us that we can continue to strengthen our long-term client relationships.”
Debenhams’ radical transformation
Once a British high street staple that was a byword in sensible clothing, Debenhams’ transformation into a marketplace-led online department store began in April 2021, following its acquisition for £55 million by British retailer Boohoo Group (now trading as Debenhams Group). With a model of buying distressed brands (Karen Millen, Warehouse, Oasis) and stripping out the physical stores to turn them into online-only brands, Booho’s acquisition of Debenhams also marked a strategic pivot away from traditional retail that nonetheless absorbed the brand’s older customer base, while embracing a capital-light, stock-light model that now hosts thousands of brands across fashion, beauty, and home. This repositioning is proving effective: Debenhams swung to a profit in 2024, with gross merchandise value (GMV) up 65% to £359.7 million
Gen Z consumers are central to its strategy, which leverages Boohoo-owned brands like PrettyLittleThing and boohooMAN to offer trend-led, affordable fashion. These younger shoppers expect fast, flexible delivery, making Debenhams’ renewed partnership with Evri — backed by its investment in lockers and ParcelShops — a critical enabler of its growth. As CEO Dan Finley puts it, Debenhams is being rebuilt as “Britain’s online department store,” offering curated, personalised experiences that resonate with a digitally native audience
Commenting on the renewed partnership with Evri, Finley said:“As a global business serving millions of customers, delivering a seamless and reliable service is our top priority. Today’s shoppers expect speed, flexibility and full visibility when it comes to receiving their items, whenever and however they choose to shop.
“This is exactly what we have found in our partnership with Evri. As we continue to scale our marketplace model, we’re delighted to extend this partnership with Evri, giving customers greater choice and convenience as they shop thousands of brands at Debenhams Group.”
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