Liverpool-based food-grade tanker specialist Charles Lucy Transport (CLT) has secured a major contract with one of Europe’s largest chocolate suppliers, prompting a rapid expansion that has seen the family-run operator double the size of its fleet in less than two years.
The business, which is headed up by siblings Charlie and Lottie Lucy, specialises in the transport of bulk liquid food products, including liquid chocolate, edible oils, glucose, syrups and citric acid,and has grown from five to 10 food-grade tankers since launching operations in 2024.
The latest contract has accelerated investment, with the company adding new bespoke tanker equipment designed in-house.
Director Lottie Lucy said: “Not only have we landed a large contract with one of the biggest European chocolate suppliers, but we started as a five-tanker firm and, by the time we hit our two-year mark in August, we’ll already have 10 tanks. We’ve invested heavily in the kit because that’s what our customers expect.”
The latest tankers have been built by French manufacturer Magyar to a specification developed by Lottie and Charlie’s father, Charlie Lucy, whose tanker design won industry awards around 15 years ago.
“Charlie and I have taken that original design and developed it into what we believe is the best kit on the road in Europe,” she said. “When you’re carrying products worth thousands of pounds per tonne, reliability is everything.”
The launch of CLT marked the Lucy family’s return to tanker operations after the siblings father Charlie Lucy sold Liverpool-based Armet Logistics in 2017.
Armet, founded in 2001, had built a strong reputation in the bulk liquid food sector before being acquired by Abbey as part of its expansion strategy.
After leaving the business in 2018, the family initially stepped away from transport, purchasing back the Liverpool tank wash facility that the family had originally built in 2010. Operating the wash bay gave them a unique view of the market.
Lottie said: “We realised there was a real gap in the market for operators running new, high-specification equipment and delivering the sort of service customers had been missing.”
Charlie, Lottie and their father launched the company in 2024. Lottie’s partner Dino Kountis has recently joined the team.
Rather than competing on price, CLT has been built around investment in equipment and customer service. Alongside real-time vehicle tracking, the company has deliberately retained a hands-on approach.
“We said to customers we weren’t trying to reinvent the wheel,” Lottie explained. “We’d provide all the technology they expect, but we were going to bring back great service. Customers don’t want to ring a switchboard or speak to a chatbot. They want to deal with someone who knows their business and makes sure the job gets done.”
The business also places significant emphasis on driver welfare, reinvesting profits into both equipment and its workforce. CLT currently employs around 15 staff, including eight full-time drivers, two part-time drivers and five office employees.
“Looking after our drivers works,” Lottie said. “Every penny we make goes back into the machinery and making sure our people are working with reliable kit. That means our customers receive the service they’re paying for.”
Chocolate remains CLT’s specialist market, although the fleet also transports palm oil, glucose, syrups and other food-grade liquid products throughout the UK and mainland Europe.
Despite its rapid growth, the company plans to continue expanding at a measured pace. A further provisional order has already been placed with Magyar, with the aim of adding three or four tankers annually.
“We’ve always wanted to grow organically and do it properly,” Lottie said. “This year we’ve grown a little quicker because customers wanted the capacity and we made it happen, but our long-term plan is sensible, sustainable growth.”
She added that the family’s complementary skills have underpinned the company’s success.
“It’s a genuine family business. My brother, Charlie heads up and leads our operations, my dad designs tanks, Dino looks after the finance, whilst I focus on our customer base and being commercially focused. We’re all heavily invested because this business is our passion.”
