CS Ellis sees dip in annual turnover after fall in customer demand

CS Ellis (Holdings) has reported a dip in turnover, after several key customers implemented cost-cutting measures and scaled back their warehousing requirements.

However, the operator said the decrease had been largely mitigated by winning new work, as well as growth in its core transport business.

Turnover for the year ended 30 June 2014 stood at £13.5m, down 2.7% on £13.9m the previous year. Pre-tax profit fell 31% to to £528,755 (2013: £768,436).

Additional revenue of £555,114 was generated from the company’s 50% share of a joint-venture with Ramsgate-based White’s Transport, called Ellis White’s, which was set up in August 2013.

CS Ellis also spent £550,000 on new assets and restructuring work in the year. This included the transfer of two existing group operations into separate limited companies: Versatile Venues, which designs, manufactures and operates mobile exhibition/roadshow trailers; and Pacwolf Fulfilment, a pick and pack, fulfilment, rework and export packing operation.

Road haulage remains under the CS Ellis (Group) banner.

CS Ellis last year appointed former DX Freight operations director Mark Tapper as the haulage division's new MD.