Norbert Dentressangle’s (ND) UK business saw a 10% increase in its turnover last year, while group turnover jumped 15%.
The UK accounted for €1.34bn (£1.01bn) of the group’s annual turnover in 2014, up from €1.21bn the previous year, making it the second largest region in terms of contribution to group turnover (€4.6bn). It also took a 29% share of the group’s total sales in 2014, flat on 2013’s sales figures.
Group turnover in its logistics division jumped 20% to €2.35bn (2013: €1.95bn), off the back of its growing e-commerce business. This figure includes four months’ trading from US-based Jacobsen, which ND acquired in August.
Turnover derived from its transport division increased 8.7% to €2.18bn (€2.01bn), which ND attributed to growth in its pallets business, offsetting "sluggish" full load transport volumes in France. The division was also hit by a “drastic drop in oil prices” which triggered a reduction in the price it charges for transport.
Chief executive Hervé Montjotin said: "In 2014 Norbert Dentressangle reached a significant new milestone of international proportions in its strategy for the provision of services to its customers.
“In the light of these achievements and our tight control of operations across all our business lines, we expect the 2014 EBITA margin to be in line with the values reported over the past few years," he added.
In 2014, ND won significant contracts with Go Outdoors, Marks & Spencer and Fernox.
