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Success continues after a year of change

DURING 2018, Dachser UK continued to build on its recent successes and has seen its turnover increase by more than 15 per cent compared to 2017. The European Logistics business unit saw continued growth in export, import and in particular contract logistics, and this positive trend continued within the Air & Sea Logistics business unit which also enjoyed double digit growth.

The company had a significant personnel change during the summer when, after more than 17 years at the helm, Nick Lowe took early retirement in September. His successor, Mark Rollinson, who has formerly held senior director positions at Schenker and Allport Cargo Services, took over the reins on 1 October.

Also in October, Aldi and Dachser signed a new five-year contract which will see Dachser provide a warehouse platform as well as UK and Ireland distribution services for a wide range of Aldi’s products. In part to accommodate this business, a 10-year lease on a new warehouse in Brackmills has recently been signed.

At the company’s north west location in Rochdale there are also plans for expansion. The current premises are now insufficient to handle Dachser’s projected business growth, and planning is at an advanced stage for a purpose built 6,700 square metre cross-dock facility; operational from mid-2019.

“Our annual sales turnover in Rochdale is now approaching the £20m mark, roughly 65 per cent of this is attributable to European road freight, thanks to our strategy of simultaneously growing and diversifying our customer portfolio,” said Mark Rollinson.

“Our skilled and motivated workforce is now approaching 450 and will be vital to the continued success and sustainability of the company. Therefore, developing training programmes for existing staff as well as for apprentices is crucial. Such is the confidence of the company in its training that apprentices are guaranteed permanent, full-time roles after a successful completion of their programme.

“Irrespective of the prevailing trade, economic and political contexts we may be faced with, we will continue to support and add value to our customers’ supply chains. At the same time, we will maintain the high levels of service reliability and quality that our customers have come to expect.”

The company has been making extensive contingency plans to handle any operational and/or commercial challenges that might transpire from the various scenarios that will affect the UK’s trade post-Brexit.

“The British government has stated consistently that it wishes to avoid a hard Brexit as, of course, do we and the majority of UK industry,” said Mark. “However, we are preparing for all possible outcomes with the aim of maintaining our European services to our customers as efficiently and seamlessly as possible. Relevant initiatives are underpinned by our AEO status and experience in customs processes and procedures and the strength, depth and adaptability of our European network. Whilst initially having the possibility of creating short-term supply chain disruption, depending on what evolves over the next few weeks, Brexit will also present new horizons and opportunities that a company such as Dachser is well-positioned to embrace.”

Contact Dachser on 01604 433100 or visit the website www.dachser.co.uk

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