88. Packfleet

Richard Parris - managing editor of Startups.co.uk
Written By
Updated on 5th January, 2023

Between carbon-neutral deliveries and a worker-focused mindset that breaks from the gig economy, Packfleet is looking to disrupt the Amazon model.

Packfleet Startups 100 2023
Startups 100 2023 Award Winner

Ecommerce Award Winner

For businesses showing evidence of genuine innovation in the competitive ecommerce space to support seamless consumer experience.

Just Started Award Shortlisted

For companies which were started in 2021/22 and have already demonstrated impressive growth, success, or disruption in their field.

Founders: Hugo Cornejo, Josh Garnham, Tristan ThomasFounded: 2021Website: packfleet.com

Nobody wants a world in which you can only buy stuff from Amazon, but independent businesses have so far not been able to compete with the e-commerce megalith.

Largely, this is due to the expensive and unethical delivery services of legacy couriers, which leave city centres grid-locked with half-empty diesel vans, and workers abused by the gig economy.

London-based Packfleet wants to change the narrative. Parking itself alongside industry giants, the startup offers smaller e-commerce merchants a chance to compete with Amazon’s delivery model, with Shopify and WooCommerce integrations available.

Co-founder Hugo Cornejo is enthusiastic about the scale of this opportunity, declaring that Packfleet is “on a mission to empower independent businesses across the UK to offer the best deliveries on earth.”

The company’s sustainability focus is reflected throughout its business operations, with B-Corp certification now pending. The service is totally emission-free, thanks to a fleet of electric vehicles. Conejo declares that Packfleet can even offer cheaper deliveries, thanks to the tech that powers its efficient route-planning.

And, with a genuine sense of care for its full-time employees, Packfleet seeks to stand apart from the gig-economy mindset.

“​​We’re providing high quality jobs to our drivers and warehouse teams,” says Cornejo. “They’re our employees, and get the same benefits that our engineers do, including private health care cover.”

The future looks exciting for Packfleet and its disruptive delivery model, and its focus on workers’ rights chimes well with the mood of the nation as the recession and cost of living crises are biting.

As for its ability to compete with the almighty Amazon? Cornejo remains bullish. “We’re still a very small company, but we already serve over 100 ecommerce merchants,” he says, “and with 0% churn – they really seem to love our service!”

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Written By

Richard Parris - managing editor of Startups.co.uk

Richard joined the Startups team in 2021, and has a career in publishing that has spanned over 15 years.

As a researcher, writer and editor, Richard has worked on brands across the UK, US and Asia in both print and online, including at the BBC, on the US-focused tech industry site Tech.co, plus at Which? magazine and its website, where Richard oversaw technology reviews and advice publishing.

Richard has been an interviewee and contributor on television, radio, newspaper, magazine and online publications, and has featured in interviews including on the BBC and The Scotsman.

Richard is passionate about converting potentially complex topics into clear, actionable advice and recommendations, and works alongside the in-house Startups team and its growing network to promote the needs of the UK small business community.

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