PEOPLE are sending fewer letters and many more parcels — which has delighted local entrepreneur Fil Adams-Mercer.

The increase in the use of smartphones and mobile tablets, such as iPads has caused a shift in the postal market as email and social networking replaces letters while burgeoning online shopping has put a flood of parcels in circulation.

Mr Adams-Mercer, founder of Parcel2Go, Britain’s biggest online parcel delivery firm, is the main mail-man who is on the front line of the newlook postal market.

He said: “Britain never used to be overly partial to parcels.

“Until fairly recently the mailbags were filled with letters of all sorts—nowadays parcels are the priority.”

The businessman added that 30 per cent of retail sales now happen on the internet and hundreds of thousands of items bought and sold have to be shipped around the UK and the world.

Parcel2Go — partnered with top international courier companies such as Fed Ex, DHL and City Link — currently serves more than a million users in the UK and sends more than two million parcels through its website each year. Mr Adams-Mercer said he is anticipating Parcel2Go having a turnover of more than £24 million next year thanks to the continuing boom in parcel sending.

He added: “It used to be just books and DVDs—but nowadays you can buy everything including the kitchen sink online and the continued growth and success of online retailing is dependent on a reliable parcel service.”

The two time winner of Business of the Year at the Bolton and Bury Business Awards and is sponsoring the Young person/Apprentice of the Year award at this year’s event being held on Thursday June 16 at the Reebok.

● The glittering black tie evening will see the cream of the Bolton and Bury business community gather to celebrate excellence in 11 award categories.

This year’s awards ceremony will be hosted by TV weather presenter Dianne Oxberry and the guest speaker will be six times former world snooker champion Steve Davis.

Tickets for the Bolton and Bury Business Awards are available at £50 per head and £500 per table of 10. Contact: Dawn Holden on 01925 426933.