XPEDIATOR
DELIVERING EXCELLENCE
XPEDIATOR
XPEDIATOR, A LEADING FREIGHT MANAGEMENT PROVIDER, HAS GROWN SIGNIFICANTLY OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, CONNECTING THE UK WITH CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPEAN MARKETS.
DELIVERING EXCELLENCE PROJECT MANAGED BY: RHYS COUSINS
UK-headquartered Xpediator is a listed company operating under its current name since 2017, drawing on the solid experience acquired over three decades. The group employs some 1,300 people across nine countries, most of whom work in the four largest centres in the UK, Lithuania, Bulgaria and Romania. 2 | TRANSPORT & LOGISTICS
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he business started by moving goods between Romania and the UK and the expertise and knowledge of Central and Eastern European markets is one of the factors that distinguish the company from others. “We are the only mediumsized UK company with its own network of offices in Eastern Europe and the Balkans, and we are now looking at expanding into other countries,” says CEO Robert Ross.
THREE DIVISIONS
He explains that the Group is split into three divisions. The largest, accounting for about 80% of the Group’s turnover,
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is freight forwarding. Xpediator does not own the equipment but uses subcontracted vehicles to move the goods. The division operates under the Delamode brand and has operational road freight offices in the UK, Bulgaria, Romania, Lithuania and several other Central and Eastern European countries. The road forwarding division provides freight forwarding expertise for full and part loads, groupage, dedicated express and customs clearance services throughout Europe. Full load consignments are dispatched securely door to door, whilst part loads and single pallets are consolidated daily to the company’s offices and exclusive partners throughout Europe. Xpediator uses a
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Smart storage solutions for warehouses Experts in the design, supply & installation of: • Racking • Shelving • Mezzanine floors • We specialize in configuring workspaces to maximize the use of available space. We provide quality project delivery at competitive prices.
T: 0800 917 1103 • E: sales@linearstorage.co.uk
www.linearstoragesolutions.com
LINEAR STORAGE SOLUTIONS EXPERTS IN PROVIDING WAREHOUSE DESIGN SOLUTIONS We have built an enviable reputation for providing a complete range of storage equipment solutions. With over 25 years’ experience to draw on, in both the storage equipment and materials handling industry, and a track record in project managing turnkey projects, we can design a fully integrated solution to include all elements of the warehouse fit out. We specialise in the design, supply and installation of racking, shelving and mezzanine floors. SafeContractor approved, we also provide a full design and build service. We offer practical advice regarding design and layout issues to find optimal solutions. Our clients include local businesses and well-known global brands. We are much more than just storage solution providers. We genuinely care about finding the best fit for our customers’ needs, no matter how small or large the project. As a result, our clients are keen to work with us again and again. Our ongoing partnership with Xpediator is a good example, this being the fourth major project on which we have collaborated. We have worked with Import Services/Delamode (one of the Xpediator group’s companies) over many years and in this time, we have designed and installed 80,000 pallet locations over three distribution centres. We pride ourselves on offering good advice, attention to detail, exceptional service and value for money. We genuinely enjoy helping our clients make the most of their workspace. We are delighted to have been part of the Xpediator distribution centre project. www.linearstoragesolutions.com
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range of equipment from express vans, box, tilt and mega trailers to specialised vehicles for garments on hangers, refrigerated cargo and low loaders. The next largest division, generating around 18% of turnover, is the logistics and warehousing division. This division also operates under the Delamode brand and its activities remain focused in Romania and the UK. Within this division, the Group also operates the Pall-Ex franchise in Romania. The last division, which is the smallest but with strong growth potential, trades under the Affinity brand, and provides bundled fuel and toll cards, financial and support services for hauliers in southern Europe.
EVOLVING WITH CUSTOMERS
Roberts Ross affirms that despite Brexit and Covid-19, which have affected the company in several ways both
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negative and positive, Xpediator is in expansion mode. He says: “We remain focused on making strategic acquisitions, both in the UK and in Central and Eastern Europe, and on acting as a consolidator in the highly fragmented freight management market. In the last three years, the Group has completed four transactions which have added over 1,200 new customers as well as significantly expanding the Group’s air and sea freight capabilities.” Speaking about market changes in the last two years, he points out that demand for freight management in the UK and CEE countries has been extremely buoyant. Whilst volumes reduced during March and April 2020 because of the number of stay-at-home policies throughout Europe, Covid-19 has led to changes in consumer trends that have driven economic growth within the Group’s core markets. The CEE region, in particular, saw increased demand, with 62% of the Group’s revenue now being generated in mainland Europe. Evolving with its customers, Xpediator is investing in the expansion of both assets and services. In September, the company announced that its subsidiary, Regional Express, which does a lot of work with Chinese-based Amazon sellers, is moving from its current premises to join its sister company, Delamode International Logistics, at its new 200,000 sq ft distribution centre located at Southampton container port. The new warehouse is designed to BREEAM Excellent Sustainability Standards and is primarily powered by renewable energy via a £2.5m roof-mounted solar panel installation, believed to be one of the largest in the UK. The
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move into the new warehouse will increase Regional Express pallet space capacity while providing increased efficiencies in stock intake, order processing and speed to market, direct to the point of demand.
ENHANCED BUSINESS
However, that has not been the only investment. The company is now looking to build a new warehouse in Roosendaal in the southern Netherlands to complement the warehouse in Southampton, as many of its customers are looking to split stock between the UK and mainland Europe. Xpediator is also expanding its warehouse and office in Lithuania, building a new cross-dock warehouse in Bulgaria and taking on a new warehouse in the north of England.
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Digitisation is another major topic for Xpediator. The company is set to launch a new online quote system that will enable the customer to get a quote in one minute, without the hassle of having to speak to different people. Focus on data and digital solutions is another unique feature distinguishing Xpediator from others, a feature that customers are bound to appreciate, says Robert Ross. “There is really a lot going on in terms of investment. We are also making internal enhancements, both in terms of automating the manual tasks in our warehouses and optimising the processes themselves.” “Last but not least, we invest substantially in our people, our core strength. We have created a Compassionate Leadership Academy for our top 200 employees as we want our people to be good leaders, good managers, good people to work with. We do look after our people and have several training programmes in place to enhance staff retention and encourage people from other countries to come and work for us. Given the expected continued growth of the sector, the company is looking into the future with optimism, he affirms. “We target over 10% organic growth in terms of revenue and an improvement of our bottom line by more than 10%. There are exciting plans and opportunities, and we will continue to develop the company towards market leadership in the quality of service we provide.” He further reflects that expanding into new markets is also on the agenda, as well as assessing potential acquisitions across the UK and Central & Eastern Europe. “My hope is that in the next 12 months we will further improve our financial performance, further enhancing our services for the benefit of our customers.”
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