Hermes, one of the UK’s biggest courier firms, said it will rebrand itself as Evri and introduce a new logo, while also confirming it will begin to offer pensions to its employees.
The company, which delivers over 400mln parcels a year, will be the first in the UK logistics industry to invest in pensions, with £7mln annually said to be ploughed into its worker’s retirement funds.
“Tens of thousands of couriers will now have the safety and security of knowing their retirement plans are being looked after,” Steve Garelick, GMB union official, said.
The change was labeled as a “breakthrough” deal to give couriers appropriate pension plans and the right to maternity and paternity leave, the Daily Mail said citing the GMB union.
Chief executive Martijn de Lange said: “Our couriers receive guaranteed pay rates, paid holiday and now a pension but have also been able to retain the flexibility that so many treasure, fitting in their deliveries alongside their other, often family, commitments.
“It is more than just a name change - it is a statement of intent of our commitment to leading the way in creating responsible delivery experiences for ‘Evri one, Evri where.’”
Footage was leaked by an undercover Times reporter at a Hermes site in Buckinghamshire in December showing employees launching deliveries against cages, walls and onto the floor.
It also showed a manager saying couriers should “act stupid” when dealing with customer complaints, the Daily Mail added.
Hermes responded saying: “We do not claim to be perfect and are aware that in an operation of our size there will be individual issues that we need to improve.
“We are determined to do this but remain confident that the vast majority of these allegations are unfounded and do not reflect our business and the standards we deliver.”
Hermes is not the only company to recently change names for its expected benefit or to reflect a change in strategy.
GlaxoSmithKline PLC (LSE:GSK) said last month its consumer arm will become Haleon when it demerges, while Aberdeen Standard Life transformed to Abrdn PLC (LSE:ABDN).
In recent months, Weight Watchers International (NASDAQ:WW) became WW (Wellness and Wellbeing) and Facebook changed its name to Meta Platforms Inc (NASDAQ:FB).