Logistics tech business sees record-breaking year 

A logistics provider to Bear Grylls’ ecommerce shop, is forecasting revenues of £12m this financial year, driven by the explosion of online retail over the past 12 months.

This represents a 58 per cent rise on the £7.6m achieved in 2019 – marking the best year to date for Chorley-based Fulfilmentcrowd.

Founded in 1984, the company provides tailored order fulfilment services and technology to more than 400 UK and international online retailers. With 102 staff across 11 UK and global centres, including Germany, the Netherlands and the US, the firm manages more than 120,000 sq. ft. of warehouse space, processing more than 50,000 items per week.

Over the past 12 months, the firm has opened three new sites in Marton Fold, UK, Bocholt, Germany and Sandston, Virginia, USA, strengthening its international network and increasing its worldwide delivery capabilities.

This includes the launch of a chilled logistics centre in Marton Fold, making cold chain fulfilment a viable and cost-effective option for UK-based ecommerce start-ups and SMEs in the food, drink, health and beauty sectors – all industries where the shelf life and quality of perishable products is greatly enhanced when stored in a temperature-controlled environment.

We have seen extraordinary levels of demand as businesses look to adapt their core models towards eCommerce offerings

It invests £1.5m a year into the research and development of its proprietary cloud-based software platform. Powered by artificial intelligence, the platform provides clients with instant marketplace integration, automated order processing and live order tracking.

Over the next 12 months, fulfilmentcrowd plans to expand its international network further by breaking into new ecommerce territories, with sites in the Middle East and Australasia already in negotiation.

Vanessa Ashworth, Chief Marketing Officer, said: “We have seen extraordinary levels of demand as businesses look to adapt their core models towards eCommerce offerings.

“Our technology platform has been crucial in enabling us to satisfy this demand, with continual investment made in research and development to ensure we provide the highest level of fulfilment to our customers. As businesses continue to digitise operations, we expect this growth to accelerate.”