The combination of a full-year of contributions from Roadways Container Logistics (RCL), and “significant progress” in its distribution business saw turnover hit nearly £200m and pre-tax profit rise 75% at Maritime Transport.

For the year-ending 27 December 2015 turnover at Maritime stood at £198.3m, up on £162.8m in the previous financial year. Pre-tax profit rose to £5.4m, compared to £3m.

It is its fourteenth consecutive year of turnover growth, with the business virtually doubling in size in the past five years.

In August 2014 Maritime acquired Aegeus Transport – the holding company for RCL. The financial performance in 2015 marks its first full year of contributions to the business and, according to documents filed at Companies House, the directors said that they were “pleased that the acquisition delivered the full benefits that were expected”.

They also pointed to the property development work that has taken place at its Tamworth depot (part of the RCL network) and the work done at its new head office in Felixstowe – both of which provide “state-of-the-art facilities for staff and drivers”.

The financial statements also point to “increased volumes” in its distribution business particularly around the Christmas peak. In September 2015 Maritime won a distribution contract with Procter and Gamble moving goods from three P&G DCs to retailers across the country.

Maritime also pointed to a “strong performance” in its Secondhandtrucks business as it continues its strategy of having on of the newest fleets on the road.

In June it said it had bought from Mercedes-Benz for the first time in five years, with an order for 65 Actros tractor units. The deal came just days after Maritime announced its purchase of 30 Volvo FHs.

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