Logistics firm celebrates 25 years on road
LOGISTICS giant Pall-Ex has marked 25 years on the road with an awards night recognising the achievements of its staff, UK network members and international partners.
The event, hosted by Cold Feet, The Hobbit and Line of Duty star James Nesbitt, took place at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole and was attended by around 700 guests from 170 independent UK hauliers, international partners and the Pall-Ex Group.
Hilary Devey, pictured – who gained national celebrity on TV’s Secret Millionaire and then joined the panel on BBC’s Dragons’ Den – founded the Leicestershire company in 1996, using its members to move pallets for one another.
Most of its UK freight passes through its Ellistown hub, and it has similar hub and spoke operations in member countries.
Pall-Ex is now owned by its senior management team and a network of shareholder members who bought the business from Ms Devey two years ago.
It has gone from moving 117 pallets on its first night to transporting more than 45,000 pallets per night nationally and internationally.
Group chief executive Kevin
Buchanan said: “Our network members deserve recognition for the significant role they have played in building Pall-Ex into the successful logistics operation it is today.
“The industry as a whole has faced a tough couple of years, with the pandemic and Brexit creating unique challenges, and our members deserve to be celebrated as haulage heroes.
“Collectively, they have gone above and beyond to ensure continuation of service despite the difficulties and their hard work and support has underlined Pall-Ex’s leading position within the sector, as well as our commitment to the industry.
“It is a real joy to celebrate our 25th anniversary in person and to be able to mark this milestone and our collective achievements with a proper celebration.”
During the awards, Severn Transport Services (STS) was presented with the Pall-Ex member of the year award, which was voted for by fellow members of the network.
The Welshpool-based haulier was launched by directors Steve Goodwin and Mark Howard in September 2019, just six months before the pandemic and lockdown.
Despite the challenges, Pall-Ex said STS had been one of its highest performing members, increasing pallet volumes steadily month on month and delivering what it called “exceptional” service.
Pall-Ex regional winners were also celebrated, with Moody Logistics & Storage winning for Scotland and the north east, and Austin Wilkinson & Sons winning for the north.
Matthews Haulage claimed the award for the central region, M Pinches & Sons for Wales and the south west, and in the south east region John Bywater Transport Limited claimed the prize.