A NEW international courier service and freight forwarding company has been launched in Hampshire.

Regional Express was set up by two former colleagues from Eastleigh-based boat trans¬port firm Peters and May.

The new firm was set up by managing director, Eric Buggy and operations and sales director Geoff Evans and is located at the Basepoint business Centre in Romsey.

“Between us we have 75 years in the industry, so we are building the Business around our experience and our contacts,” said Eric.

“And we are off to a really good start.”

In their careers, they have shipped just about everything to everywhere and they have contacts all over the world.

Contracts have included freighting hovercraft to Abu Dhabi, volatile chemicals to Saudi, humanitarian sup¬plies from the UN to remote areas in the world and just about everything in between.

Their first job as Regional Express was to send a portrait of Einstein made of toast to the Ripley Museum in Orlando, Florida.

“Some people might think this isn't the best time to start up a new venture, but we take the opposite view,” said Eric.

“There are plenty of oppor¬tunities if you have the right approach. Everyone is looking to save money and if you can offer a top quality service at a sensible, competitive price, you will succeed.

“We are converting quotes into contracts.”

Regional Express works with major courier integrators who afford them competitive rates in exchange for the high volumes they give them in return.