Expanding Co Armagh haulage firm to build £4m depot and increase staff
A NORTHERN Ireland haulage firm is planning to invest £4m and create jobs with a new depot and office development in Co Armagh, it can be revealed.
Derry Refrigerated Transport deals with chilled and frozen distribution throughout the UK, Ireland and Europe.
It’s currently based at Vicarage Road in Portadown, but it’s now planning to expand and grow the business, with a new base in the town. That comes after the firm saw growth of 67% in its business since 2013.
It was set up by Patrick Derry in 1999 and now employs around 150 workers.
The new planned hub at Charlestown Road will include an office, storage/warehousing and workshop buildings, HGV trailer parking and car parking.
Derry ships products for a range of companies, including Moy Park, Willowbrook Foods and Avondale Foods.
Seamus Leheny, policy and membership manager of the Freight Transport Association, said Derry is a company “showing not just healthy growth but employing best practice”.
“By seeing such growth in the local transport industry, it not only demonstrates the great work of the likes of Derry, but it shows the general economy, which relies on transport companies to move its goods, to be growing and healthy,” Mr Leheny added.
“Investment like this by transport companies helps our local manufacturing sector as it im- proves the local supply chain and connectivity.”
A design and access statement on behalf of the business said: “Since inception, the company has become increasingly successful and has gained a larger stake in the local haulage market through an increased number of company clients.
“Since 2013, the company has grown 67% and this period of growth has allowed DRT (NI) Ltd to increase both the number of HGV vehicles on the road, and company employees.”
The planned development represents an investment of around £4m, and the statement added: “At present the company employs approximately 150 staff, and the investment and development of the haulage depot will lead to further expected job creation, both within the company itself and during the construction phase”.
Speaking about its existing site, which the business moved to in late 2013, it said: “The company have recognised an increasing haulage requirement for chilled storage facilities.
“As the company successfully works alongside local businesses, they wish to develop their chilled storage offering as this specialised area is somewhat limited.”
On the new proposed site, the firm said it will “allow the company to develop a purpose-built haulage depot that is suitable for their specialist distribution and storage requirements”.
It added: “With the development of the proposed site and provision of increased storage facilities, the company expects to grow by approximately 10% in the first two years, post-construction.”
Derry said the new scheme design will incorporate the redevelopment of the site.
The company statement: “The design and appearance of the proposed buildings are suitable for the nature of the development proposed, and are typical of a modern storage and distribution facility.”