Redhead Freight on the road to recovery after Schenker integration

Redhead Freight is continuing to make progress after its acquisition by Schenker, which saw the reverse integration of loss-making DB Schenker Logistics into the business.

Reporting its annual results to 31 December 2017, the Bradford-based company revealed that turnover had risen 12% in the year to £64.6m (2016: £56.7m). Its annual pre-tax loss improved by almost two thirds to £939,103 (2016: loss of £2.8m).

The purchase of a 75% share of Redhead Freight’s parent company in December 2015 by Schenker, which included an arrangement to buy the entire company by 2020, saw the DB Schenker Logistics name retired and Redhead's management team set the task of turning the enlarged UK business's fortunes around.

In its strategic report to the results the company attributed the firm’s improved performance to the management’s focus on “eradicating the substantial losses” of the former DB Schenker Logistics division and to “operational changes implemented in the final quarter of 2016”.

Read more

• DB Schenker buys Redhead International
• Redhead International moves into Tamworth depot
• DB Schenker expands capacity at Midlands hub

The company boosted turnover in all geographic regions during the year with UK turnover up 10% to £45m (2016: £40.2m). Turnover from Continental Europe increased 18% to 19.3m (2016: £16.3m). Turnover outside Europe rose to £270,508 in the period (2016: £151,235).

Redhead Freight, which is a Palletforce member and trades as Redhead International, has a fleet of more than 300 trucks operating from five depots across the UK.

The company had not responded to a request for comment as this article was published.