Brian Yeardley Continental returned to growth in 2025 thanks to its post-management buyout strategy of investing in people, equipment and sales activity, delivering gains across both its general cargo and live events operations.
The Lancashire-based operator posted turnover of almost £19m for the year ended 31 December 2025, up from £16.4m in 2024, while operating profit edged ahead to £158,734 from £153,670. Pre-tax profit, however, slipped slightly to £27,511 compared with £29,244 the previous year.
In its strategic report, the company said the first full year following the October 2024 management buy out (MBO) had exceeded expectations, with “exceptional growth in both divisions” despite difficult economic and political conditions.
The group, which employs 80 staff and has an operating licence for 70 trucks and 115 trailers, operates through two divisions - CARGOBY, focused on general cargo logistics, and TRUCKINGBY, which handles transport for live events, touring productions and entertainment clients.
The standout performance came from the TRUCKINGBY division, where turnover surged from £6.6m in 2024 to £9m in 2025. Directors described the result as “a resounding success” in what remains a fiercely competitive live events logistics market.
The company attributed growth to repeat business from major touring and corporate clients, alongside new customer wins which the report said was driven by its focus on customer service and value for money.
Meanwhile, the general cargo arm also recorded significant gains through a combination of new contracts and increased volumes from existing customers. The company said its investment in sales and marketing teams since 2023 had raised the profile of both brands and generated “significant wins” during 2025.
Despite the increase in turnover, margins remained under pressure. Cost of sales rose sharply to £17.1m from almost £14m, while administrative expenses climbed to £2.5m. Gross profit fell from £2.5m to £1.8m, although this was partly offset by £778,962 in other operating income.
The company said competitive pressures had intensified as the market normalised following the post-pandemic period, when truck and driver shortages had pushed rates upwards. It noted that customers were once again demanding high service levels at increasingly competitive prices.
Brian Yeardley Continental continued to invest in fleet renewal during the year, acquiring newer trucks with the latest engine technology as part of its environmental strategy. The business also said it remained committed to carbon offsetting initiatives through its fuel suppliers.
International growth remains a strategic priority, with the company highlighting increased European activity through its Danish joint venture, StokholmBY. According to the directors, more business is now originating from continental Europe than at any point previously.
The report also outlined several ongoing risks facing the business, including competitive market conditions, Brexit-related regulatory uncertainty, exchange rate volatility and geopolitical instability linked to the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East.
Management warned that continued global instability could drive up fuel and commodity costs and potentially reduce consumer spending on live entertainment, affecting demand for touring transport services.
Nevertheless, directors said they remained confident about future prospects and confirmed that existing invoice discounting facilities provided sufficient working capital for the foreseeable future. Forecasts prepared on a conservative basis indicated the company remained a going concern.
Distributable reserves fell to £1.5m from £2.4m, while profit after tax declined to £10,511 from £77,215 in 2024.
Looking ahead, the company is forecasting continued expansion, aided by investment in equipment, staff and customer relationships.
The report concluded: “Following the completion of the MBO in October 2024 the new strategy has been to continually invest in equipment and people in order to grow the business.
“We are extremely happy with 2025 in that we have been able to achieve such exceptional growth in both divisions in our first full year post MBO.
”As we turn to 2026 and beyond, we believe that we have laid the foundation for the group to build upon its success and continue to grow and develop.
“We have acquired new and improved equipment, we have forged new relationships and strengthened existing ones all across our customer base and supply chain, we have continued in our approach to invest in the future rather than focus on the short-term and do so against the back-drop of a very challenging economic and political climate.”
