Turners (Soham) pushes up turnover and profit despite subdued market

The company saw turnover rise to £640m, compared with £592m in the previous period, whilst pre-tax profit rose to £75m, up from £71.5m in 2024, according to its latest annual results for the 53 weeks to 3 January 2026.

The temperature-controlled division increased turnover from £179m to £197m, while tanker operations grew from £92m to £111m. The container division, including storage, recorded turnover of £219m, up from £206m.

General haulage and other activities, including specialist fruit and vegetable distribution, saw turnover fall slightly to £113m from £115m.

According to the strategic report to the results, freight volumes remained relatively low throughout 2025 as the UK economy continued to grow slowly. It added: “The container division in particular continued to be significantly impacted by market conditions.”

During the year the group operated 2,801 trucks, compared with 2,712 a year earlier. Employee numbers also increased, from 4,482 to 4,602.

Turners operates across temperature-controlled food distribution and storage, tanker transport for the food, building products and fuel industries, container distribution and storage, and general haulage.

Its temperature-controlled activities include bespoke order picking, warehousing, fruit packing and nationwide distribution to wholesale markets.

The strategic report also revealed that the company had acquired a further 25% of shares in Dowse Haulage in 2025, bringing its total share to 75%, and had purchased the remaining 50% shares in DRS Logistics.

The company’s subsidiaries include Macintyre Transport; Goldstar Transport; Fruitex (Spalding); Turners (Soham) Service Company; Ocean Trailers; R & R Haulage; Jack Richards Holdings; Jack Richards & Son; A Hardwick Haulage; MKT Logistics; Matthew Kibble Transport; Fullforce Logistics; Shakespeare Transport; Lynn Transport & Logistics; DRS Logistics; SPR Trailer Services; Logistic Planning Services; Proactive Logistics; and Dowse Haulage.

Looking ahead, the company said volumes had remained broadly static across most sectors this year, while rising fuel prices had added significantly to costs across the UK haulage industry in 2026.

The directors identified maintaining core operational activities as the group’s principal business risk. They said disaster recovery procedures were being developed continuously, alongside regular risk assessments.

The group said its strategy included reinvesting profits to support controlled and sustainable growth, with continued investment in employees, infrastructure and vehicles.