North West hauliers Farrall's Transport and Fagan & Whalley have officially launched a 4PL joint-venture, FF&W, off the back of an additional contract win with construction materials manufacturer Knauf Insulation.
Ahead of the latest contract, Chester-based Farrall's and Padhiam, Lancashire-based Fagan & Whalley were already transporting glass fibre roof insulation and rock mineral wool cavity insulation for Knauf via its factories in St Helens and Queensferry for onwards distribution.
This was done under the FF&W banner but after securing a contract to manage the transport of cladding products from Knauf’s Cwmbran production facilities, the Palletforce network founder members have decided to launch their joint-venture into the wider market.
Farrall's MD Mike Farrall said: “Bringing the combined expertise and resources of two of the North West’s leading logistics companies together within a 4PL structure - under FF&W - creates a highly responsive and flexible logistics services business that offers scale, expert knowledge and reliability.”
Under the new structure FF&W can now manage contracts for clients utilising the combined assets of Farrall's and Fagen & Whalley, which totals some 180 vehicles, 500 trailers and 50,000m² of warehousing.
Stephen Fagan, MD of Fagan & Whalley, said, “Having worked closely together over many years we recognise that we share core values, such as a determination to perform to the highest service levels, to engender trust through proven reliability and to respond swiftly and unconditionally to any problems.
“FF&W will have the shared values of both partner organisations and the combined management skills, assets and vision to co-ordinate complex logistics activities for large and medium sized businesses,” he added.
In the financial year ending 30 April 2013 Fagen & Whalley saw turnover rise to £19.6m, from £17.3m in the previous year. Pre-tax profit was virtually static at £900,316 (2012: £903,824).
Edwin C Farrall is yet to post financial results for 2013, but in the year-ending 31 December 2012 it posted a turnover of £6.3m and a pre-tax profit of £289,414.
