News

Wincanton, the supply chain specialist, has reported a year of "strong" growth, boosted by several acquisitions and contract wins.

The company, which is in the process of carrying out due diligence on logistics firm TDG, said its pre-tax profit rose 13% to £36.7m in the year to 31 March 2008.

Its revenue rose 12% to £2.2bn, while its operating profit was £42.5m, up 11% on 2007.

During the year Wincanton won a contract with drinks manufacturer Beam Global to provide contract packing and product re-work services, as well as warehousing and distribution.

It secured a five-year contract packing deal with Nestlé Purina, using robotic pickers and other automated packing technology.

Wincanton also won business with Somerfield, Hoover Candy, Homebase, Bella Italia and Café Rouge.

The company was boosted by a number of acquisitions during the year, including the logistics companies Swales Haulage, Hanbury Davies and HeBo.

In May it acquired Product Support Holdings (PSH), the provider of supply chain and packaging solutions to the defence and aerospace markets, for £27m.