Logistics firm plots course for record growth

MANCHESTER-based logistics service provider Cardinal Maritime is on course for record turnover in 2015 after a year of strong growth.

The business, now an established brand in more than 90 countries, expects to revenue to increase by 22% up to £59m – up from £48.4m in 2014.

That mirrors the previous year’s hike, when turnover rose 21% from £40.1m in 2013.

Chief executive of Cardinal Maritime Brian Hay said: “The company has experienced significant year-on-year growth in the last three years and we expect to continue on this upward trajectory over the next 12 to 18 months.

“The group is built on seven distinct values, including service, culture and enterprise, which have enabled our brands to build solid client relationships and establish a firm international foothold in the global logistics industry.

“We intend to continue to invest in not only the growth of our own services, but support the overseas capabilities of our clients, through continued commitment to innovation and technology.”

Cardinal Maritime, which employs 200 members of staff across four offices in Manchester, Ireland, South Africa and Holland, has five brands within the Group. These are: Cardinal Maritime, Origin Logistics, Direct Food Express, Far Logistics and Cardinal Plus.

Rob Cross is managing director of Cardinal Plus and was a founder of the Cardinal Maritime Group in 1998, along with Brian Hay and David Garratt. He said: “Consolidated year-on-year growth in Cardinal Plus is being driven by a retail sector that is regaining its position through increased consumer confidence.
 
“With retail sales in 2014 growing by around 2.3%– the best retail sales performance since before the recession – and GDP expected to grow this year by 2.%, along with retail sales (2%), we’re confident the brand’s development will mirror that of our clients[1].”
 
The company’s services span eastwards from the United Kingdom into the Mediterranean, the Middle-East, the Canaries, Africa, India, the Far East and then westwards into North and South America.