UPS Inc. will begin Saturday ground-parcel deliveries in the U.S. this summer from a limited number of facilities, according to a company spokesman.

Steve Gaut would not confirm a published report that the service would be launched in Atlanta, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles. In an e-mailed statement, Gaut said it is "evaluating Saturday delivery" of ground packages in the U.S. as a result of rising demand for e-commerce-related delivery services.

The Atlanta-based company will consider rolling out the service to other U.S. locations after it analyzes the performance of the limited launch, Gaut said.

UPS, which offers Saturday deliveries of air shipments, has tested Saturday delivery of ground shipments in the past.