Stafford haulier Stan Robinson says increasing volumes have put the company back on track and helped boost group pre-tax profit by 134%. Turnover for the year ending 31 May increased by 10% to £16.8m, thanks to contract wins and more efficient use of the 170-vehicle fleet. Boss Stan Robinson won't name the companies involved, but says it won deals with "three or four biggish new customers" and built up business with its existing customer base.
Pre-tax profit for the group was more than
£1.2m, compared with £514,000 in the previous year. Profit in just its road haulage arm also returned to the black, with £609,000, compared with a £108,000 loss in 2006.
Robinson says: "The previous year was a bit of a disaster for us. The main reason was volumes, which were down. Volumes have now picked up again, and so has the economy. Two years ago things were really, really slack. It's now settled down and work has become more plentiful. Now the vehicles are running fully loaded and there are no more vehicles than there were before. That's one reason why we have shown better profit."
The firm has recently published a charity calendar with photographs of male employees "tastefully posed". Proceeds will be split between Katherine House Hospice and County Air Ambulance. Robinson threatens: "We are doing one next year for the wrinklies. This year it was the more attractive guys!"
Reed Business Information Limited.©2008
