News

Reed Boardall's transport division managed to more than halve its losses last year but its directors expect further difficulties as operating costs increase. Turnover increased by 3% to £25.8m for the year ending 31 March 2007, with pre-tax losses down to £206,000 from £574,000 in 2006. The other half of the Boroughbridge, North Yorkshire company's operations, Reed Boardall Cold Storage, fared better. It turned in a pre-tax profit of £2.6m for the same period, up from £2.4m the year before. Turnover  also rose nearly 4% to £39.3m.

Reed Boardall, which owns 160 tractors and 240 refrigerated trailers and delivers 1.8m pallets a year, says trading conditions continue to be challenging. Volumes of goods passing through its cold stores remained largely unchanged, but contract wins show promise for the future. A company statement says: "The inflation in food prices is putting a general downward pressure on the supply chain and with increased fuel prices it is difficult to recover costs."

It continues: "However, the company anticipates an overall improvement for the current year and confidence in the future is exemplified by a new cold store at its single site in Boroughbridge. Due to be completed in May 2008, it will increase capacity by 24%." A group reorganisation in April last year resulted in both divisions, which employ 581 staff, becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of The Reed Boardall Group.