Europa reveals Eastern promise

Former Eastern Bloc countries such as Russia and Kazakhstan will come within the scope of a new service offered by Europa Worldwide Logistics
Europa Worldwide Logistics is to launch road services to all 26 countries, including Russia and the ‘-stan- states, such and Kazakhstan. It will start promoting the new destinations in January.
Managing director Malcolm Smith says: ‘We are the only logistics company to offer a complete European service- others specialise in just a few countries. We want to have services to the Eastern Bloc countries running before they join the European Union.’
Malcolm says Europa currently has a turnover of £52m and will grow organically; but he does not rule out an acquisition og the ‘right match’ becomes available.
‘Our profitability continues to grow year on year and we have seen good growth in all sectors of our business this year, extending well beyond our traditional core European business into worldwide activity,’ Smith says.
Growth has been helped by new online booking and consignment tracking services, he says Smith.
In the past three months Europa has taken on contracts with food suppliers Cremanaze and Allied Mills. It has also won a deal to distribute architectural ironmongery to the double-glazing industry for Maco UK and has taken on more work with paper importers Elco Paper UK.
Europa’s domestic work is carried out through the Palletline network of which it was a founding member and is currently the third biggest inputter with 600 pallets a night, The Palletline business is worth £10m a year, Smith says.
‘Palletline is not a cheap system but it works brilliantly. We are still getting more and more customers onboard and it will continue because they want to be in a European network.
‘The future is very much in pallets. Soon everything will have to go on a pallet for safety reasons. It won’t be acceptable to ask your staff to manhandle consignments,’ says Smith.