Abbey hits the road with greener fleet

ABBEY Logistics Group is to spend more than £5m on updating its fleet of vehicles to greener models.

The Liverpool-based company, which specialises in transporting bulk food ingredients,  says the investment will allow it to meet carbon emission targets and operate in low carbon zones, such as those established in London.    

Abbey, whcih has its base in Bootle, has sealed a £5.5m equipment funding package from HSBC Commercial Banking in the North West.

Bootle-based Abbey operates across the UK and Europe and aims to increase its turnover from £21.7m to around to £27m this year. It
operating 200 trucks and 260 tanks and trailers from nine bases across the UK.

Last autumn it snapped-up the assets of Macclesfield-based rival RH Stevens, which added 15 tractor and trailer units and 30 tankers to its fleet.

Managing director Steve Granite said: “We have been in business for over two decades and remain committed to investing in the company to continually improve and extend the range of services we can offer our customers.

“The equipment funding from HSBC will allow us to target future growth and expansion, while ensuring we are as energy-efficient as possible in the environment we operate in.”      

Rikki Griffiths, HSBC’s area commercial director for Liverpool, said: “Abbey Logistics Group has managed to consistently grow its operations and turnover, while staying abreast of fast-moving environmental changes.

“With the Government’s ambitious green targets setting the agenda for many businesses in the UK, Abbey Logistics Group is a great example of a company that is tackling its objectives head on and setting a high standard for the industry.”

In the year to the end of June 2011 Abbey made a profit of £655,318 on turnover of £21.7m.