Reed Boardall, a longstanding leader in the temperature-controlled food storage and distribution sector, has reinforced its market position with a notable increase in profits and operational volumes.
In its latest financial results for the year ending March 2024, the company reported pre-tax profits of GBP2.51 million, up from GBP1.1% of revenue to 1.9%, reflecting the growing demand for its services despite fierce competition in the industry.
The company’s single-site operation in Boroughbridge, Yorkshire, has been pivotal to its success. Boasting a capacity of 168,000 pallets, it has seen utilization rates climb steadily, alongside growth in turnover and profitability across all facets of its business. This progress follows Reed Boardall’s 2021 completion of a multi-million-pound expansion, making it home to one of the UK’s most extensive and modern cold storage facilities.
Chief Executive Marcus Boardall noted that the business has weathered the challenges posed by the pandemic and rising costs to emerge stronger. “After a tough few years, we are now seeing the benefits of our investment in capacity and our single-site model,” he said. The company’s reputation for reliability, built over three decades of serving the UK’s leading food retailers and manufacturers, continues to draw both new customers and expanded contracts from existing clients.
Reed Boardall’s portfolio extends beyond cold storage and transportation to include specialized services such as blast freezing, picking, and packing—areas that have experienced significant demand over the past year.
Sarah Roberts, the group finance director, highlighted the efficiency of the company’s single-site strategy in driving its success. She anticipates full utilization of the Boroughbridge facility by spring 2024 as volumes continue to increase. “These financial results underscore the effectiveness of our approach,” she said.
The company’s in-house driver training academy has been instrumental in mitigating labor shortages, a challenge that has plagued the logistics sector in recent years. Since its inception, the program has qualified 80 new HGV drivers, bolstering the firm’s operational resilience and service quality.
Reed Boardall’s innovation and commitment to excellence remain at the core of its operations. “We are approaching the year ahead from a position of strength,” Roberts added. “Our solid reputation and can-do attitude continue to reassure some of the biggest names in British food retail that they are in the capable hands of a reliable, long-established partner.”
Operating from a 55-acre site in North Yorkshire, Reed Boardall has grown into one of the largest temperature-controlled logistics businesses in the UK. Its fleet of 200 vehicles runs 24/7, delivering 12,000 pallets of frozen food daily from domestic and international manufacturers to all major British supermarkets. Alongside its core distribution services, the company provides blast freezing, picking, and packaging, solidifying its role as a cornerstone of the UK’s food supply chain.
Find out more at: https://www.reedboardall.com/