Pedal & Post
The business, the turning points, and the decisions behind them.
01 / WHAT IT BUILT
What the company did
Pedal & Post was an Oxford-based green logistics company founded in 2013 by Christopher Benton. It used e-cargo bikes, trikes and electric vans for first- and last-mile urban parcel delivery, removing van journeys from city streets. Operating from Oxford and (from 2025) London, with around 60 staff, it partnered with national carriers including Evri and was an early pioneer of UK cargo-bike logistics, winning Sustainable Medium Business of the Year at the Oxford Climate Awards.
02 / Pedal & Post FAILURE REASONS
Failure reasons
Pedal & Post collapsed because it lost a single client that represented about 25% of its revenue and an estimated 36% of its margin contribution: micromobility company Voi unexpectedly terminated its contract in January 2026 with a 30-day notice. Founder Christopher Benton told shareholders the change was 'major, unexpected and extremely difficult', and that the company could not raise funds or find a route to financial sustainability. As a small business reliant on five to six major clients, the loss proved fatal; Pedal & Post was placed into creditors' voluntary liquidation in January 2026, with around 60 jobs lost and investors warned they were unlikely to recover their money.
03 / EVENT HISTORY
Events in the structured record
- Company founded
Christopher Benton founds Pedal & Post in Oxford as an e-cargo bike courier for last-mile urban delivery.
- Crowdfunding and growth
Pedal & Post raises £500,000 through a crowdfunding campaign and partners with carriers such as Evri, delivering over 1,000 parcels a day in Oxford.
- London expansion
The company expands into London (summer 2025) alongside its Oxford operations.
- Voluntary liquidation
After micromobility company Voi unexpectedly terminates its contract (~25% of revenue) in January 2026, Pedal & Post is placed into creditors' voluntary liquidation; around 60 staff are made redundant.
04 / CONTEMPORARY REBUILD ASSESSMENT
Difficulty of rebuilding this project today
Material for this section is being gathered and checked. It will appear here once ready.
Overall assessment: Not completed
05 / CAUSAL CHAIN
How the factors connect
- 01
In January 2026 Voi served 30 days' notice to end its contract with Pedal & Post, removing ~25% of revenue and ~36% of margin contribution.
- 02
Founder Christopher Benton told staff and shareholders the company could not raise funds or reach financial sustainability.
- 03
Pedal & Post entered creditors' voluntary liquidation in January 2026 (announced January 28); around 60 jobs were lost and investors were told they were unlikely to recover their money.