APC 'cuckoo' into new nest
APC, the 110-strong next-day network started operations at a new hub on Monday that gives a huge boost to capacity.
The hub is just off the M6 j11 and was built for Initial Citylink a decade ago. It has 54 doors against just five nearby premises APC was using up to this week. Lighting and power have been upgraded and a £350,000 close-roller conveyor system installed by PJ Gavin & Sons of Swansea.
Abel managing director Quentin Abel, who also owns a member firm in Manchester, says APC will avoid chasing volume at the expense of margins or service levels, despite the capacity increase. Nightly throughput is running at 30,000 items/20,000 consignments a night and year-on-year growth has consistently been around 40%. Annual turnover is £30m.
APC was formed as the Alternative Parcels Company by sameday and courier specialists nine years ago and now has 110 member depots. It is promoting the APC brand more strongly and has developed a new IT system in-house.
APC has also bought its first double-deck trailers. The network buys all the trunk movements – the spend last year was £6m – and is therefore keen to upgrade a system that was largely based on vans when the network started operating.
The network has also just moved into the former Target premises at Bellshill, Scotland, which it uses to consolidate.
“We’re getting a reputation as cuckoos – we keep stealing other people’s nests,” says director Vince Friery, who owns an APC member in Liverpool.
