Sharp ■ Informed ■ Challenging
18.9.17
NEWS INSIDE Come together
THE NEW SCANIA
RHA calls for MPs’ support for tough times ahead p3
Bread and butter
Abbey closes haulage to focus on tanker business p6
Taking aim
Illegal London waste operators targeted
p10
Low notes
Yodel fails to turn profit in eighth consecutive year p12
OPERATORS IN THIS ISSUE Abbey Logistics Group ...........................p6 DHL Supply Chain ..................................p6 DPD ....................................................p22 Eddie Stobart ........................................p3 James Hall............................................p3 Kammac ...............................................p6 Samworth Brothers .............................p19 Yodel...................................................p12
Eggleton will become NFT chief executive from 1 January 2018
Management rejig at chilled specialist Concept
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By Carol Millett
Chilled food logistics specialist NFT is to restructure its management team, which will see chief operating officer Ross Eggleton (right) become chief executive in January. As part of the restructuring, current CEO David Frankish will become vice-chairman responsible for strategic customer development and acquisition and merger opportunities. He will also become a senior advisor to NFT’s private equity owner EmergeVest. Eggleton, who joined from supermarket group WM Morrison earlier this year, has taken on the role of deputy chief executive with immediate effect ahead of his move to the full role from 1 January. He is tasked with strengthening and expanding the firm’s
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Warehousing pressure builds
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customer base in the chilled food sector and developing services at its 230,000ft² temperature-controlled handling and DC at Tilbury Port, which opened last year. The group, which operates from 15 UK sites, has a customer base that includes Sainsbury’s, Asda and Marks & Spencer. It employs approximately 2,500 staff and operates 650 trucks and 800 trailers. David Frankish joined NFT more than 30 years ago, leading an MBO of the firm, formerly owned by Northern Foods, in 2006. Under his leadership the business has expanded from an annual turnover of £52m in 1995 to £220m. Heath Zarin, NFT chairman and EmergeVest MD, told MT: “David has been instrumental in developing most of NFT’s
strategic customer relationships, as well as our acquisition of NR Evans. He will focus on these important areas.” He added: “We would like to thank David for all he has contributed to NFT’s success and we are pleased to welcome him as a senior advisor to EmergeVest. We are confident in Ross and his ability to lead NFT through its next phase of strategic development.”
BRIGHT SPARK: Volvo claims its liquefied natural gas (LNG) FH and FM trucks are up to 25% more fuel efficient than conventional spark plug engines. The new trucks are fuelled by more than 90% LNG plus a small amount of diesel as an ignition fuel, which the manufacturer refers to as a ‘liquid spark plug’. At an event revealing Volvo Trucks’ vision for the future, the manufacturer said: “You get the same efficiency, performance and robustness as a diesel engine, and that’s important. We have 15% to 25% better [fuel] efficiency compared with the spark plug engines. Performance-wise, you have similar driveability to the Volvo diesel engines.” Volvo Trucks also displayed its concept diesel-electric hybrid vehicle (pictured) at the event at the Slovakia Ring. The vehicle’s hybrid powertrain generates and stores energy when the truck travels down a hill or brakes. This energy then powers the truck on flats or low gradients.
The availability of UK warehousing stock could come under increased pressure should the UK default to World Trade Organisation(WTO) rules in the wake of failed Brexit negotiations. Just-in-time supply chains, particularly for automotive spare parts, would seek to mitigate import delays and trade tariffs by keeping more stock in the UK after Brexit. Parts ranging from truck tyres to brake pads would all be affected under WTO rules, and suppliers could seek to increase UK inventory by holding items within UK borders. Speaking at the BT Fleet Solutions Forum in London last week, Julia Saini, global vice-president for mobility at Frost and Sullivan, said there was potential for shortages. “Distributors could spend on additional warehousing stock to mitigate these delays and suppliers would have to absorb price increases, through profit margins or passing the costs on to customers,” she said.
THE NEW SCANIA
News: FTA Brexit column p13 Focus: Business barometer p14 Highwayman p15 Feature: Driver CPC p18 MT Awards Winners p22-25
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14/09/2017 17:07:20