Revenue up 6% at Fowler Welch

Fowler Welch boosted revenue 6% to £152.4m for the year ended 31 March, with pre-tax profit up to £3.9m, from £2.6m the previous year.

The FMCG specialist downsized its container division in the period, with the closure of its Felixstowe site. It now runs a smaller operation from its site in Alconbury, Cambridgshire that has seen an improvement in miles per truck. It has also  reduced its number of tractor units.

Performance was boosted at its 50,000 pallet ambient consolidation centre in Heywood, Greater Manchester, which experienced a difficult period of initial trading when it opened in 2010. The firm says the site has seen a considerable turnaround.

A site in Newton Abbot, Devon, opened in July 2011 to extend work on the Tesco Express store distribution model and is expected to act as a platform for growth in the South West.

The Spalding, Lincs, hub saw lower gross margins due to lower revenues and reduced subcontractor availability, but the outlook is positive for 2012.

Chairman Philip Meeson says: "Fowler Welch is a great logistics business in a demanding but vital market place.  Our ability to invest, together with its excellent facilities and long industry experience, coupled with a determined management team, puts the company in good shape for future profitable growth.

"Fowler Welch has a number of business development opportunities throughout its network and is benefiting from recent wins in the North West."