News

Stephen Cooke, the owner and director of collapsed Leeds haulage firm Macfarlane Transport Holdings, is back in business with a new company.

Cooke is now running a firm called Live Logistics, which trades from his property in Mewith, North Yorkshire. The firm was set up on 10 July, when Cooke was appointed director. MT was unable to contact Cooke as we went to press.

Macfarlane was  placed into administration on 2 July, with corporate recovery firm KPMG taking over the running of the firm. Unfortunately no buyer for the company could be found and it ceased trading with around 300 staff laid off.

However, it appears that other hauliers have picked up work on the back of their collapsed rival: Morely-based Archbold Logistics has taken over Macfarlane's automotive distribution; Cross Gates operator Longs of Leeds is believed to have picked up a client in the food distribution sector; and CM Downton, Macfarlane's former partner in magazine distribution business Fastmag, is now handling this operation on its own.

In fact, as a response to the increased workload, Downton has opened a new 60,000ft² site in Gildersome, Leeds. Managing director Andrew Downton adds: "Historically, Macfarlane handled the magazine distribution in the North and Downton covered the South. Now we can offer a fully integrated distribution network.  It has been a totally seamless transition and all the clients are delighted. In effect, we are now the largest magazine distributor in the UK."

Around 30 staff have been taken on by Downton at the site and has based 14 trucks there, although Downton says it will review the operation on an ongoing basis. "We will grow it as demand grows," he adds.