Sports fever drives demand up 30% for Coventry logistics business

A COVENTRY logistics business has seen a 30% increase in orders as the UK prepares to indulge in a long summer of sport.

On top of the normal Test Matches and Wimbledon, Pooling Partners is having to cope with football’s European Championships and the Rio Olympics.

Pooling Partners is Europe’s biggest manufacturer and pooler of wooden pallets for the food  supply chain. It works with brand giants including PepsiCo and Tayto Golden Wonder; helping to keep the shelves stacked with products such as Walkers crisps, Doritos, Golden Wonder, and Nivea sun cream during periods of peak demand.

“We move everything from beer to barbeques to fresh fruit, water, crisps, snacks and Nivea sun cream and we are already seeing demand figures up by 30%,” said Carl McInernery, UK director for Pooling Partners, which is based in Meriden Business Park.  
 
“When we see clients such as Walkers engage in promotions around sports events we have, over the years, seen double-digit increases in volumes and are starting to see the same with the European Football Championships.
 
“As the summer progresses, with Andy Murray hoping for a second Wimbledon win and the firing pistol sounding on the Olympics, people will undoubtedly do more socialising and even have sports-themed barbecues – this behaviour is what drives our volumes in years of competition.”

The company delivered more than 20 million items and drove more than 1.2 billion pallet miles last year.