R Swain Daf XF

A committed customer base and varied operations helped Kent-based R Swain & Sons grow both turnover and pre-tax profit last year.

Its latest financial accounts published to Companies House revealed a  9.6% increase in turnover to £34.8m for the year ended 31 December 2013, (2012: £31.8m).

Pre-tax profit jumped 23.5% to £1.3m, compared to £1.08m in the previous financial year. Its pre-tax profit margin also grew to 3.8% from 3.4%.

MD Bob Swain told Motortransport.co.uk that the firm’s “broad base transport service” allowed it to react to changing market conditions and keep business steady. He claimed that it always has steady work available though its varied customer base.

“We cover anything between one pallet to a 150-tonne load, so we can easily react to changing conditions,” he said.

“It’s a challenging market, but I think our success has all been down to strong management, staff and a committed customer base,” Swain added.

He said the increases in both turnover and pre-tax profit were also boosted by tight control of its costs. He also claimed to have doubled its investment in its fleet during the period.

“We’re always trying to improve our fleet profile,” he said.

During 2013, the operator increased the size of its Rochester base to 12 acres with the acquisition of an adjacent two acre site and its warehouse.

In March this year, R Swain & Sons acquired Hatfield-based heavy haulier Hallett Silbermann for an undisclosed sum, which Swain said is now fully integrated into its special projects division. The acquisition boosted the firm’s number of depots to four, including sites in Rochester, Manchester and Burton-on-Trent.

R Swain & Sons is also a member of the Harlequin Logistics consortium, which recently won an expanded contract with Kimberley Clark.

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