Saints

Airfreight specialist Saints Transport has reported a 60% increase in pre-tax profit for the year ending 31 December 2011.

The firm, whose revenues rose 4.7% to just under £23.2m last year, revealed a profit before tax of £1.48m, compared to just over £922,000 the previous year.

Saints vice chairman Piers Carroll says the rise in revenue was purely down to new business, while the leap in profitability was the result of careful attention to costs. "We've been battening down the hatches and doing out damndest to keep costs under control," he says. "We've also been making sure the business we do is profitable and sticking to what we know - airfreight."

Carroll says he would like to think the firm can maintain this eleveated level of performance in the current financial year but cautions: "It's very uncertain out there and I think there there could be a lot of trouble coming with Europe, which could have ramifications for us."

The firm currently runs just under 200 vehicles and 120 trailers. Average headcount rose just over 4% during the year to 330 staff and Carroll says the firm is currently seeking to recruit further drivers.

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