PRESS RELEASE
One of East Anglia’s oldest-established logistics providers, which even has a museum dedicated to its name, has joined the Palletline network.
For over 60 years Jack Richards & Son Ltd, based in Fakenham, Norfolk, a town mentioned in the Domesday Book, has operated road haulage services around the UK, palletised-load distribution across Europe and localised warehousing and storage.
Jack Richards and his wife Gladys started the business in 1956 with one lorry carrying fresh produce to the Midlands markets. Today it boasts a fleet of more than 300 trucks and 750 trailers operating from 13 sites and delivering to all corners of the UK.
The founder, who passed away in 2014, left a legacy of a thriving local enterprise and today a museum bearing his name is located at the business headquarters.
Previously part of the Palletways network, the business was looking for a partnership that reflected its forward-thinking and customer- focused ethos.
“We were attracted by Palletline because of the Member ownership model and success of the business platform. The fact that members have a share and say in the running of operation fits with our ethos of service and loyalty,” said Managing Director Peter Brown.
“It has been two years of careful planning and consideration to make the investment to join Palletline which complements our core haulage business and spreads our customer profile. Jack Richards is a company that has always aimed to work with all businesses as a collaborative relationship rather than a supplier customer agreement.
“As technology and the markets move rapidly, we needed to make sure we had stable and well formulated plans for the future. For us, we believe this will be yet another good decision for this long-established family company that has built its success on integrity, service and loyalty to its staff.
“The name Jack Richards is held in high esteem and we believe this alliance adds core strength and value to both brands and its fellow members. This move will demonstrate to our customers that we can provide the very best in service in a competitive market. It will be an organic growth model to which we hope to share some best practice and innovations in the industry,” he added.
Group managing director of Palletline Graham Leitch said: “Jack Richards is a well-established family business firmly rooted in the East Anglia postcode areas that it will look after on our behalf – we are very proud to include this esteemed brand in our growing family. There is a synchronicity in the values of both of our businesses which will ensure that we grow together.”
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