Several logistics firms involved in the cold chain in the United Kingdom have made news recently.
Heywood-based Yearsley Logistics is Britain’s largest distributor of frozen foods has invested £35 million over the past few years in the development of its nationwide network of cold stores, new services and lorries in order to improving the breadth of the service it is offering. The company has acquired and constructed new cold stores, installed solar panels and energy reduction technology across its premises and invested in 26 new Mercedes Actros lorries and 50 new trailers.
“Yearsley Logistics has created a lean, agile supply chain with a national network of 13 depots and a 300-strong fleet which allows us to react to manufacturers and retailers increasing demands for shorter lead times, including day one for day two deliveries.”
Established in 1955, Yearsley Group has 13 strategically located depots nationwide which includes the investment of £20 million into the expansion of the northern super hub at Heywood with a huge 100,000 square foot unit, and the 2012 acquisition of the 200,000 sq. ft., 42,000-pallet Hams Hall depot in the Midlands.The company has also increased the availability of its temperature controlled repackaging facility at Heywood.?
Planning permission has also recently been granted for another 365,000 sq. ft., 120,000-pallet southern super hub in Peterborough, set to begin construction later this year, giving Yearsley Logistics a number of prime positions nationwide.
A.I.M. Logistics, the Evesham-based temperature controlled and container shipping specialist, announced last week that they have expanded its 50-plus vehicle fleet with the addition of three Cool Liners from Krone.
In addition to its traditional UK work, the company provides an 'end-to-end cold chain logistics service, including ambient frozen palletized loads, to customers in France, Belgium and Holland. A.I.M. Logistics also comprises 7.5 tonnes express vehicles and chiller vans and provides a full consolidation and cross-docking service.
"These trailers fit well with our commercial plan and are well proven in the European market", said A.I.M. Director, Ismail Elmagdoub.
Fresh Logistics, a specialized refrigerated courier and temperature controlled transport service with dual compartment multi-temperature vehicles throughout the UK and Europe, announced they won ‘SME Operator 2014’ and were finalists for Corporate Responsibility by the Storage, Handling & Distribution (SHD) Logistics within the Small to Medium Enterprise (SME) category. The prestigious ceremony was held at the exclusive Park Lane Hotel in London and were hosted by comedian Miles Jupp.
“To win such an award amongst so many great companies is a fantastic achievement," said Alan White, MD of Fresh Logistics?. "Winning SME Operator is an absolute thrill and it is a tremendous honor. This award holds such value because it is the industry that nominated us and our nomination was reinforced by the industry’s leading experts within the panel of judges."
