Five strong haulier consortium Harlequin Logistics has signed its first contract with Kellogg’s — just seven months into its first year of trading.
Harlequin will deliver Kellogg’s products from its depot in Manchester to retailer RDCs, wholesalers and cash & carries nationwide.
The consortium which comprises Currie European Transport, Jack Richards & Son; John Raymond Transport, R Swain and Sons and Prestons of Potto was set up by former Jigsaw Solutions founder Paul Smith in July 2011.
“The fact that Kellogg’s, one of the world’s best-known and most iconic brands, has opted for Harlequin as its transport supplier, speaks volumes. We will deliver around 15,000 Kellogg’s loads this year, from Scotland to the south coast, and are confident that our unique structure will enhance the service provided,” he says.
Smith tells Commercialmotor.com that a second deal is due to start in the coming months, with “two or three” further deal set to follow later in the year.
So who are the loosers here or was the contract already with one of the members? Don’t BTS do a lot of Kelloggs work from Trafford Park
That brought back some memories 1996/97 when I worked for Sheddick /N.D used to load pop tarts from brutons cwmbrain take trailer drop at Kellogg’s Trafford park pick up a loaded one of pop tarts and deliver to tescos magor what fun
Jack Richards were working on Kellogs early last year… I’m guessing this is a “spread-the-risk” move designed to keep several respected hauliers toeing the line, to the advantage of former Jigsaw Solutions founder Paul Smith in July 2011.
EastAnglianTrucker:
Otherwise known as price fixing.
…but I could be wrong!
and you are
Its a company that all the hauliers have set up between them to go for the larger contracts they probably are not big enough to handle on their own.
Also because each haulier covers a different part of the country that means that they dont have to set up satellite depots to cover a national contract of this size. theres a few of this type of consortiums about now all perfectly legal and above board, which price fixing or cartels most definatly arent
EastAnglianTrucker:
Jack Richards were working on Kellogs early last year… I’m guessing this is a “spread-the-risk” move designed to keep several respected hauliers toeing the line, to the advantage of former Jigsaw Solutions founder Paul Smith in July 2011.
Otherwise known as price fixing.
…but I could be wrong!
Richards have worked with them for years,they were Kelloggs haulier of the year a few years back…as Rikki has said,Harlequin was formed and owned by all its members with Paul Smith having a 40% share or thereabouts and the others having 12%…they are all family run,traditional hauliers and it allows them to go for the bigger contracts offering a betterservice than the 3pls who basically own no equipment and sub all the work out and make profit for not really doing ■■■■ all!!!
Good luck to them all…I work for one of them and i really hope that it shows these big corporate ■■■■■ that the small fish can succeed.
So it’s a similar operation to Linq Alliance, where a group of hauliers jump into bed with each other to theoretically minimise empty running, until one of those partners buys out the operation like Bedfords did.
Quinny:
So it’s a similar operation to Linq Alliance, where a group of hauliers jump into bed with each other to theoretically minimise empty running, until one of those partners buys out the operation like Bedfords did.
Ken.
It makes perfect sense to me, Jigsaw Solutions worked until a couple of big players dropped out. I imagine there is a bit of infighting in the boardroom because as hauliers, we all seem to think the grass is greener over yonder. But it worked.
No doubt Paul Smith has learnt from that experience and dotted a few more i’s
Quinny:
So it’s a similar operation to Linq Alliance, where a group of hauliers jump into bed with each other to theoretically minimise empty running, until one of those partners buys out the operation like Bedfords did.
Ken.
It makes perfect sense to me, Jigsaw Solutions worked until a couple of big players dropped out. I imagine there is a bit of infighting in the boardroom because as hauliers, we all seem to think the grass is greener over yonder. But it worked.
No doubt Paul Smith has learnt from that experience and dotted a few more i’s
I think that’s why he’s kept a big stake of the shares
