Turnover and profitability at C Butt reduced significantly before the long-standing family firm was sold last year, driven largely by the loss of a customer and the closure of its Brackmills warehouse.
Accounts filed for the year ending 30 April 2025 show that the Northamptonshire transport company saw revenue reduce by 27% to £13.5m.
It made a pre-tax loss of £275,000, compared to a £539,000 profit in 2024.
The company said the loss was driven by a combination of factors; it lost a key customer that it had worked with for 17 years and accounted for a significant portion of its revenue.
C Butt also said the loss was caused by the closure of its 100,000 sq ft warehouse facility, which had become economically unviable.
“The board took the strategic decision to downsize the warehouse operation and restructure accordingly, incurring closure and restructuring costs,” the company said in a business overview.
“While these decisions had a short-term impact on profitability, they were necessary to mitigate ongoing losses and protect the longer-term financial position of the company.”
C Butt said the directors considered the long-term consequences of its decisions in response to market conditions and that the loss of its customer and closure of the Brackmills shed was taken after it had evaluated sustainability, shareholder value and operational efficiency.
“After the year end, the directors considered the company’s longer-term future given an ageing board and the absence of a next generation to continue the business,” it said.
The haulier was sold to Menzies Distribution on 1 December 2025 and its assets and employees transferred over to the new owners.
“Notwithstanding the cessation of trading activities, the company maintains a healthy balance sheet and strong cash reserves,” it added.
C Butt was established in 1926 by Charles Butt and his nephew William Butt and was run by the family for three generations.
In 1986 it became the first haulier of the year winner at the inaugural Motor Transport awards.
