Published at 09:20, Thursday, 03 January 2013

STALKERS Transport Services is back in the black after two years of losses.

Profit: Stalkers Transport Services made a profit of £45k in the year to September

The haulage company, based at Townfoot Industrial Estate, Brampton, made a profit of £45,000 in the year to September.

That followed losses of £125,000 in 2010-11 and £289,000 in 2009-10.

The family-owned company says it made a slow start to the financial year but, once it had withdrawn from a loss-making pallet network, of which it had been a founding member, performance was better than expected.

Hughie Stalker, managing director, said: “We have entered an exciting phase in our 44-year history. Following a tough couple of years, not only have we turned around the business, we have also been successful in winning a major contract with one of our largest customers. As one of the largest privately-owned employers in Cumbria, this turnaround means we have been able to safeguard jobs and invest in new vehicles to help us meet the new business we have won.”

Stalkers operates 60 vehicles, employs 100 staff and has 30,000sq ft of modern warehousing space.

The company carried out a complete review of its business early in the year.

This led it to strengthen some areas, in particular to develop its ‘easy as ABC northern gateway’ strategy.

Mr Stalker said: “For some time now, we have been helping hauliers reduce their carbon footprint, minimise empty running time and reduce their standing time by using us as their northern gateway into Scotland.”

“We’ve developed our ‘easy as ABC’ concept, which means customers with groupage freight [multiple small consignments] have a quality, cost-effective alternative to using a pallet network.

“Not only is this giving us and them greater control on pricing and quality, it is proving to be a huge success.”

He added: “Our aim in 2013 is to make absolutely sure that everyone – customers, suppliers and other hauliers – become more aware of the quality services that we offer and just how flexible and adaptable we can be to meet their needs.”

Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk