Clipper Logistics has enjoyed a successful first year listed on the London Stock Exchange, experiencing a leap in turnover and profit.

The company, which has just struck a deal with retailer John Lewis to develop its click and collect service, saw group turnover climb 16.7% to £234.8m in the year to 30 April 2015.

This compared with turnover of £201m a year earlier. Overall, group pre-tax profit leapt 140% to £9.5m (2014: £3.9m).

Contract wins and renewals in the year included Harvey Nichols, New Look, Pep & Co, Philip Morris and Zara.

Clipper's December 2014 purchase of electrical returns logistics business Servicecare Support Services for £5.7m provided an instant boost, with Servicecare adding £5.7m of turnover and £794,000 pre-tax profit to the group.

It added that its general merchandise and clothing returns management concept Boomerang, which it has now incorporated Servicecare into, had been a success in its first year with 95% of products within its scope returned to prime stock at first pass.

Steve Parkin, executive chairman of Clipper, said: "The group is proud to be continuously recognised throughout the UK's retail sector, as a leading provider of value-added logistics and e-fulfilment solutions and this is reflected in our latest set of full year results.

“Successfully implementing its strategy of both organic and acquisitive growth whilst working with some of the UK's most recognised brands, the business continues to drive shareholder value," he added.

“Our new reporting year has started strongly with the signing of terms for a click & collect solution with John Lewis and we look forward to updating the market with further successes through the coming year."

Clipper's CV dealership Northern Commercials saw a 2.1% increase in operating profit to £1.9m (2014: £1.8m) during the year.

Clipper’s board has recommended a final dividend of 3.2p per share, making a total dividend in respect of the year ended 3 April of 4.8p per share.

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