Geodis’ UK wine arm adds 10% to turnover after a year

Geodis Calberson's dedicated wine and spirits division has added 10% to company turnover, just 12 months after it was launched.

Gary Hubbard, director of UK logistics at Geodis Calberson, and heading the Geodis Wine Logistics team, says: "Geodis has a history of handling fine wines, so we thought it was about time we sold the service to the UK. I am pleased with how well the service has been received after just one year. It is already accounting for 10% of the firm's UK revenue, and I expect this to grow."

Launched last year at the International Wine Challenge, the division has since picked up contracts with PLB Group and Constellation Brands, and last week was awarded a cross-Channel contract with The Wine Society, to haul more than 100,000 cases of wine a year to the society's Stevenage, Herts warehouse from the Languedoc region in France.

Hubbard says a shared-user fleet has ensured good cost-efficiency in the division, which is headquartered in Dover. He adds: "Transport services for wine and spirits have been taken up well, but when we are at a quieter time in Q1 2011, I plan to roll out the division and offer clients more storage options. We have the infrastructure and tools in place to really grow [the division]."