Isover Downton

CM Downton has won a £15m contract from Bibby Distribution, transporting goods for insulation manufacturer Isover UK.

The five-year deal with the Saint Gobain-owned company will see Downton store and transport goods from Isover's Runcorn factroy, just 400m away from Downton's own site.

Management, transport and warehouse staff from Bibby, six in total, have been transferred to CM Downton and the operator took full control of the operation in May this year. It also took ownership of 20 Isover-branded trailers.

Isover said it switched to Downton as its transport partner because of the operator's proximity to the Runcorn factory and its ability to support growing business volumes.

Downton said Bibby Distribution had issues with scheduling while it held the contract as a result of limited loading space on-site.

A statement on the deal explained that Downton has been able to remedy this by shunting goods to its nearby facility where there is more space for loading and future growth.

Bibby Distribution had held the contract since 2010.

John Pointon, supply chain manager at Isover UK, said: “CM Downton was able to demonstrate innovation and value that will support Isover’s ongoing business growth with added stability.

Downton's head of business development David Hutchings said the five-year contract was an unusual length for the operator, but added: "There are commercial and operational benefits of doing an extended deal for both sides. Saint Gobain and Isover saw we are a solid business who can offer strategic support over the longer term.

"This was a challenging and complex transfer but it was completed seamless, the ramp-up has gone exceptionally well and the support we gave ahead of go-live demonstrates our flexible and can-do attitude.”

Bibby Distribution declined to comment.

Pictured, left to right: John Downton, Downton group operations director; Simon Tait, Isover operations director; John Pointon Isover supply chain manager; Jannette Wallace, Downton Runcorn depot manager

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