Stobart contracts boost

EDDiE Stobart logistics saw sales and profits jump last year as it was boosted by new contracts.

The haulier posted a 35pc rise in full-year revenue to £843.1m – ahead of market expectations – while pretax profit more than doubled from £9.9m to £23.6m.

it signed new contracts with Pepsi co Walkers, Britvic, cemex and Tarmac, and renewed deals with Johnson & Johnson, Unilever and coca-cola.

in total, the company made £162m from new contracts across all its sectors.

Eddie Stobart logistics was spun out of Stobart Group in 2014. it has to pay royalties for using the name until the current licensing deal ends in 2020. Shares rose 1pc, or 1p, to 99p.