Suttons Transport boosts pre-tax profit by 267%

Suttons Transport has posted a rise in profit and turnover helped by a good performance from its distribution and tanker divisions.

Operating profit at the Widnes firm - which consists of Suttons Tankers, Suttons Distribution and Suttons International - rose to £2.4m for the year to April 2008, up from £921,000 in 2007.

Pre-tax profit increased to £2.5m from £682,000 the previous year - a 267% rise. Turnover at the company, which scooped the Motor Transport safety award this year, also increased - to £40.5m from £39m.

In a financial statement, the firm says: "Suttons Distribution significantly improved its performance. Warehouse activities benefited from the strategy of developing a tenant base whilst securing increased inventory levels in the common user facilities."

It adds: "Suttons Tankers continued to enhance its performance through efficiency improvements and reported strong results in the chemical, gas and petroleum sectors."

The company has now withdrawn from the general haulage market due to "difficult trading conditions", although it has retained a small contract-backed operation.

Suttons is optimistic that its diversification into bulk food distribution and a chemical drumming operation will also aid future growth.