Rick Bestwick celebrates a year of success with DFDS

 Coldstore specialist Rick Bestwick is marking one year since it transferred its transport services to DFDS Logistics.

The temperature-controlled storage specialist has hailed the partnership a “huge success” with more than 44,000 deliveries carried out across the UK, Europe and internationally.

Kevin Hancock, managing director at Chesterfield-based Rick Bestwick, said: “The partnership has gone extremely well. Prior to working with DFDS, transport services were carried out in house, so it was a big move to hand over that trust.

“But it has been a huge success and we are looking forward to many more fruitful years ahead.”

The collaboration was initially struck up between Rick Bestwick in October 2015, when all transport operations and driver employees transferred to DFDS Logistics. The arrangement was then rolled out across the Magnavale group of companies – which includes Rick Bestwick, Rick Bestwick (North), CM North West and Lancaster Coldstore – four months later.

The partnership has already exceeded targets and feedback from staff and customers has been positive. It has also enabled the two organisations to share knowledge, best business practices and commercial opportunities.

Kevin added: “As Europe’s largest logistics provider, DFDS has demonstrated it has the size, credibility and ability to provide an improved supply chain solution for all customers within the group. Customers are confident their products will be transported to and from where they need to be, on time and in the best condition.

“The support of DFDS has enabled the Magnavale family of companies to provide a ‘one-stop shop’ of services to ensure maximum efficiency and customer service whilst lowering costs for all parties involved.

“It has always been our ethos to deliver a local family service with the agility and flexibility of a bigger network and Magnavale’s link with DFDS has cemented that vision.”

DFDS Logistics, which this year marks its 150^th anniversary, has a temperature-controlled fleet of more than 500 vehicles in the UK, operating from 10 depots across the UK & Ireland.

Matt O’Dell, director at DFDS, said: “We are delighted to celebrate 12 months of success with Rick Bestwick – especially in this milestone year for DFDS Logistics.

“We are confident out our combined expertise gives us a unique position in the market which will pave the way for the future of the supply chain.