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An overhaul of Suttons Group's entire strategy three years ago is finally paying dividends, with profits expected in all three of its main businesses this year, according to its boss. Andrew Palmer, group managing director of the north-west distribution company, says it had already begun reducing its general haulage business, including sub-contracting and tramping work, before its licence was cut by Traffic Commissioner Beverley Bell last March  over safety concerns.

But he adds: "We took the lessons very much to heart and have moved on since then." The group's 18-acre site at St Helens is now increasingly being used for warehousing, and it also offers tenanted premises for customers. Suttons is still providing distribution needs to its warehousing customers but its haulage activities have been reduced markedly, due to difficult market conditions.

The strategy means the group is now split three ways, with its international business the largest, turning over around £45m, its UK road tanker operations with £35m and its St Helens operation, now turning over £5m. Palmer says: "It's a tough business, but it's doing substantially better than it was three years ago."