Retail postal services franchise Postal Connections has a new parent — two, to be exact.

The Mission Valley business, previously owned by Beverly Hills’ Global Business Services Inc., said Jan. 29 that it had been acquired by a partnership formed between its operating officer and chief executive officer.

Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

Former Operating Officer Fred Morache and former CEO Andy Thompson now share the title of managing director of Postal Connections. Since the two joined Postal Connections five years ago, the company has enjoyed significant growth.

“There were 17 Postal Connections franchise locations in 2002, and today our network is approaching 100 nationwide,” Thompson said.

Prior to joining Postal Connections, both men worked for Mail Boxes Etc. Inc. before United Parcel Services of America Inc. acquired the business in 2001.

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Speaking Of UPS: Last month, homegrown Petco Animal Supplies Inc. was covered in this column for ranking among the top 10 most competitive American retailers. But they weren’t the only local retailer to make the list.

The UPS Store also shows up. Although a subsidiary of Atlanta-based United Parcel Service of America Inc., the UPS Store runs operations out of San Diego rather than Georgia.

The UPS Store is a reincarnation of Mail Boxes Etc. Inc., launched in San Diego 25 years ago and bought by UPS in 2001.

The National Retail Federation study ranked the UPS Store and Petco No. 1 and 6, respectively, on the Most Competitive Retailer list for 2007. The Washington, D.C., trade association, with help from a private research institute, studied the rate of return on invested capital among large retailers and found that those that made the top 10 list generated returns three times higher than those of other retailers.

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Glam Moms: Break out the champagne and borrowed jewels, a San Diego retailer is headed to the Oscars. Well, a pre-Oscar ceremony breakfast, anyway.