UK Mail offered pallets business lifeline by rival

DELIVERY firm UK Mail Group, which announced earlier this week that it is to close it UK Pallets business, has forged a deal with a rival which could aid customers and hauliers.

Leicestershire-based freight distribution firm Pall-Ex – founded by Hilary Devey of Dragon’s Den fame – is offering assistance to 73 hauliers as well as customers affected by the proposed closure of Fradley Park-based UK Pallets.
 
It has agreed with Birmingham’s UK Mail that as the proposed closure processes progress, Pall-Ex and UK Pallets will work to look after the customer base.

As part of this process, Pall-Ex would meet with all members and customers, and will be officially recommended as the palletised freight network of choice by UK Mail.
 
Graeme Wilson, managing director of UK Pallets, said: “We are keen to support our members and customer base in sourcing an alternative quality network that is flexible enough to meet their needs should UK Pallets cease trading as is currently proposed.”
 
Pall-Ex CEO Devey said: “Pall-Ex remains true to its founding ambitions of being comprehensive in scope and service, but we’re also well-placed to move quickly when an opportunity presents itself.

“Our ability to rapidly step-in and support both hauliers and customers who may be left exposed by the UK Pallets situation is testament to this mindset, as well as a reflection of our advantage over multi-shareholder owned networks, which tend to be mired in bureaucracy.
 
“We will be delighted to lend our assistance to those qualifying hauliers who we anticipate being able to flourish within Pall-Ex: demonstrating financial and operational integrity, as well as proving a cultural and ethical fit.”

As well as continuing to grow its UK membership, Pall-Ex is also driving forward its European expansion, with plans to launch new networks in Benelux and Bulgaria during the first quarter of 2015.