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International market ripe for development of MBE concept.
For Immediate Release
SAN DIEGO (January 31, 2001) - Continuing its strong international
growth, Mail Boxes Etc. (MBE) has expanded its presence as a provider of business
solutions with the recent announcement of master license agreements covering multiple
countries and territories in the Caribbean region. With the addition of the Bahamas,
Bermuda, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Cayman Islands, Turks & Caicos Islands,
and Saint Lucia, MBE has master license agreements in 72 countries.
The new MBE locations will provide mailbox rental, packing and shipping,
faxing, black & white and color copying, printing and binding, mail receiving
and forwarding, wire transfer of funds and office/packing supplies.
"The business services market throughout the Caribbean is fragmented," said
Peter Holt, executive vice president of franchise sales and development for
MBE. "As a result, there is a demand for the convenience of one-stop shopping
and the world-class customer service for which MBE is known."
Grupo PYV, owned by the Pellerano family of Santo Domingo, will develop the
MBE concept in both the Dominican Republic and Haiti. In addition to other
significant business holdings, the family is also a major shareholder of
TRICOM (NYSE: TDR), the second largest telecommunications company in the
Dominican Republic. An MBE pilot center is projected to open in Santo Domingo
in April 2001.
In May 2001, Caleb Enterprises Ltd., the new Master Licensee for the Caribbean,
plans to open an MBE pilot center in Nassau, Bahamas. Following this, they will
expand the concept throughout the Bahamas, Jamaica, St. Lucia, Bermuda, Cayman
Islands, and Turks and Caicos Islands. The principals of Caleb Enterprises Ltd.
have 25 years of experience developing and supporting multi-unit franchise
networks throughout the Caribbean.
Mail Boxes Etc., a wholly owned subsidiary of US Office Products Company (OTCBB: OFIS),
is the world's largest retail business, communication and postal services
franchiser. Over 4,300 MBE locations operate worldwide, with master license agreements
covering more than 70 countries. In the United States, MBE locations are owned and
operated by licensed franchisees of Mail Boxes Etc., USA, Inc. Outside the United States,
MBE locations are owned and operated by MBE master licensees or their franchisees. MBE
maintains a Web site at http://www.mbe.com. |
