AK Worthington

Expansion into international distribution should add around £1m a year in turnover this year, Manchester-based operator AK Worthington (AKW) has predicted.

Having started daily services to nine overseas countries with weekly services to eight more, contributed to a 5.9% rise in the year to 30 June 2012 in annual turnover to £10.66m (2011: £10.06m)

AKW's turnover in the year was also boosted by passing more business through haulage consortium Partnerlink, which it is a shareholder in.

Although AKW's profit before tax fell 4.4% during the year to £83,700 (2011: £87,600), the operator's management team said they remained pleased with the firm's continuing profitability given the ongoing economic situation.

"There is still uncertainty in the economy, which will have an impact on the company's growth in 2013," thy said.

Partnerlink has itself recently expanded its international footprint with a new European partner.