Transport@Nightline-depot-lorry-Jul10

Irish parcels firm Nightline celebrated its 20th year in business with a visit from Ireland’s deputy prime minister Eamon Gilmore.

Speaking at the firm’s Dublin headquarters, Gilmore said Nightline’s success during a period of economic uncertainty was due to the company’s “solid foundation” of innovation, commitment and hard work. He added: “Businesses like Nightline are important to not only the national economy but also local communities through employment and local expenditure.”

Nightline Parcel Motel artist impression Feb12 copy

Nightline began trading in May 1992 from a back bedroom in Dublin; by 2011, it had grown to handle more than 11 million parcels per year.

CEO John Tuohy stressed that the company would not be resting on its laurels and remained committed to the strategy which now saw it handle one in every four parcels carried on Irish roads, adding: “We have certainly come a long way in two decades but, in the last 12 months alone, the expansion in the size and capability of our depots, the acquisition of more business from major retail clients and our investment in staff and IT underlines our desire not to stand still.”

Next month will see the launch of Parcel Motel (pictured above), a series of self-service parcel terminals that will be located across Dublin in phase one, and across the whole of Ireland by 2014.

Last year the company relocated to a new Belfast HQ, three times larger than its previous site, prompted by surging parcels volumes.