DT Christmas Newsletter 2025

Davies Turner Newsletter 2025

Roaring into 2026 with winning partners

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December 2025

Contents 2 - 3 Review of 2025 4 Financial Report A year of two tales 5 HS&E Taking pride in HS&E endeavours 6 - 7 News A success story resulting from Brexit DT Academy hits 3,000 completed courses Krone trailer fleet increases in size Alliance with project44 renewed Across the Modes 8 Air Celebrating the launch of our e-commerce department Aviation Logistics Network meets in Beijing 9 Space Space Logistics Network ships satellites to Space X 10-13 Logistics Significant accomplishments mark good year for logistics Looking ahead A warm welcome to Jan de Rijk 14-15 Road A year of growth, resilience and team spirit Full, part load and dedicated services in focus 16-17 Ocean and Rail Rolling the dice and keeping fingers crossed Mission impossible: Delivering against the odds! Up Close And Personal 18-20 2025 was a year of some notable retirements Emma Turner becomes board director of logistics subsidiary Going the extra mile: How we delivered on

TUPE commitments Long service awards

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2025: Resilience pays off with a year of growth and achievements Against a backdrop of notable challenges, we can proudly reflect on a year of good progress in 2025, writes Group Operations Director, Edward Stephenson

I n the last Xmas newsletter, I mentioned that in the year ahead we would likely need to show resilience in navigating our way through 2025. Therefore, against a backdrop of notable challenges such as continuing economic struggles at home and abroad, the impact of US tariff policy and geopolitical tensions, we can proudly reflect on a year of progress and satisfaction in what we have achieved. Starting off our impressive list of achievements is the 2025 Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) rankings where Davies Turner rose to 20th place, up from 23rd in 2024 and 29th in 2023. This steady climb reflects our growing influence and performance in a competitive field dominated by multinational giants. We should be especially proud to be the only UK-based, privately owned and independently run freight forwarding and

Manitoulin Global Forwarding hit the ground running and is reaping benefits already with increased volumes.

A more recent development in our road freight team has been the change in partner in Portugal. The new partnership with Torrestir provided a long list of sales leads to pursue, and we’ve also seen more collection orders coming through in the last few weeks than we ever did previously, which bodes well for the future. The sky’s not the limit Following the launch of Space Logistics Network (SLN) last year, the membership goes from strength to strength with a growing specialist global coverage. A highlight of the year was seeing a shipment that SLN had arranged to be transported from the UK to the Space X launchpad in the USA where it was then flown into space on a Space X rocket. This shows that the sky’s no longer the limit . Davies Turner Logistics (DTL) has also been breaking new ground by forming a partnership with another family owned and independently-run Logistics company called Jan De Rijk in the Netherlands. This strategic partnership means that DTL now has a solution for our UK based clients to store and distribute goods in the EU, which has started really positively with plenty of interest. achievement from last year’s standing start. 2025 has been quite a year and I would like to thank you all for your hard work and commitment in helping the company achieve these fantastic successes. This leaves me to wish you and your families a joyful Christmas and a very happy new year. Our most recent logistics site in Atherstone has also proved to be a big hit with new clients filling up the building so that it is full, which is a remarkable

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logistics company to make it into the top 20. The ranking is based on a rigorous assessment of financials, performance, accreditations, HR practices, and more, which is a true reflection of our all-round strength. Commitment to health and safety Our unwavering commitment to Health and Safety across all operations was recognised with a 5th consecutive RoSPA Gold Award, earning the prestigious RoSPA

We can proudly

reflect on a year of progress and satisfaction in what

Gold Seal. This recognition is a great testament to all the hard work and focus from everyone involved in such a critical part of our business. A further accomplishment achieved during the year was obtaining the Bronze medal for our EcoVadis submission which is only awarded to the top 35 percent of rated companies in sustainability across all industries globally. The nature of the freight forwarding and logistics industry means assessment is also one of the most challenging and our medal demonstrates the gains we’ve made in implementing sustainable practices across the company. A year of M&A activity causes upheaval 2025 saw a number of very large mergers and acquisitions in the industry with DSV acquiring DB Schenker being the largest of them all. However, Davies Turner hasn’t been immune to the knock-on effect of these M&A activities. An example being when our longstanding partner in Türkiye, Ekol Logistics was acquired by DFDS, which resulted in the start of a new partnership with Talay Logistics and also extending our relationship with Gebrüder Weiss into a new territory for the point of origin warehousing. Further opportunities to form exciting new partnerships presented themselves during the year. There has been a change of partner in Canada where the new relationship with we have achieved

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Financial summary: A year of two tales FINANCIAL NEWS

Group Financial Director, Stephen King, provides his annual summary of the company’s financial performance and other accounting matters

T here are two tales to tell this year – another great set of financial results, and the challenge

A year of two halves It was a year of two halves for our logistics business. We know there is a different sell for the logistics business. It is generally a much longer period to convert a sales opportunity into revenue in the P&L and the first half of the year was laying the groundwork for the second half. New business at Atherstone and Bristol CP1 helped deliver a fantastic 2nd half of the year results, and a very good full year position. Change to the finance system was a massive undertaking, with significant challenges. Whilst ultimately successful, it did not proceed without disruption. We continued to pay our suppliers and collect cash from our customers, which was always the priority. However, there was a big change to how operations teams viewed job schedule and sales ledger information, and there were issues along the way that have now been mostly resolved. Thank you for your patience as we have worked through this challenging project, and especially thank you to the finance & IT teams who have been at the heart of the project. Financial priorities As we move towards the end of the current financial year our financial priorities remain our desire to continue to achieve our profitability targets, collect the cash owed by our customers, and manage our cost base in these challenging times. Both national and global events make this an ever more difficult challenge. Thank you for your own contribution towards the success of the business, despite the adversity faced from both internal and external factors; and continuing to be part of the ongoing development of Davies Turner. On 1 June we started using a new finance system, Microsoft Dynamics. Separating the finance modules, which were fully integrated with the main AS400 operating system,

of changing finance systems. In respect of the company’s financial performance, it was another year showing a strong financial performance in the latest published accounts for the Davies Turner group. The accounts for the year ended 31 March 2025 show turnover of £264 million, a 24 percent increase over the previous financial year, and revenue of £79

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million, an eight percent increase, whilst retaining a strong balance sheet which allows the group to continue to invest in the development of the business. Revenue ahead of budget In both the surface freight and air freight businesses the revenue performance was far in excess of the budgeted amount for the year. Whilst we do budget on a conservative basis – what we know at the time rather than trying to predict the many variables of the freight industry – to end the year 80% ahead of budget profit is a phenomenal performance by you all. The last five years have shown how the volatility in rates and volumes impact our Profit & Loss (P&L), with turnover ranging from £200 million to £350 million during that time.

Our financial priorities remain our desire to continue to achieve our profitability targets, collect the cash owed by our customers, and manage our cost base

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This year has also seen volatility in rates, although this has been less dramatic than prior years. The higher ocean freight volumes along with high rates at the start of the financial year has resulted in an improved performance, and the trailer business also benefitted from significant growth from our largest customer, ASOS.

Davies Turner - Central Park, Bristol

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HS&E

Taking pride in HS&E endeavours Carl Inman and Charley Trotter report that 2025 was another excellent year for the Group’s Health, Safety & Environment Management work, now further substantiated by our Group Sustainability Management programme and credentials

E arly 2025 saw the confirmation that the Group had been awarded a fifth consecutive RoSPA Gold Award for our Health and Safety Management and Safety performance (five Gold Awards in five consecutive years is no mean feat). From Swift to Share Point That was quickly followed by the transition of our HSE Management systems from Swift to the new Share Point platform (hopefully, you agree that it is a great step forward and improvement). For traditional “old school” safety, the Group has yet again reported an overall reduction in reported accidents. The occupational health and safety systems in place at four of the Davies Turner Group’s regional distribution centres in the UK have been certified to the ISO45001:2018 standard by the market-leading provider of ISO compliance certification and risk management training solutions, ISOQAR. Three of the hubs are operated by the company’s surface freight subsidiaries, Davies Turner & Co, and Davies Turner Logistics, whilst the fourth is the Heathrow-based headquarters of airfreight subsidiary, Davies Turner Air Cargo. All are large, busy and fast-paced warehousing and logistics operations. Integrated management system Whilst migrating the hundreds of documents we use, we integrated both of our management systems into a single Integrated Management System (IMS). The new IMS was externally audited during July and August with no issues or concerns raised. The IMS approach also saved six external audit days with costs. The Group also had to comply with the new and (allegedly) “simpler recycling” requirements (all sites should have new recycling bins), as well as comply with the ever increasing environmental reporting requirements. Whilst we are talking about recycling, nine sites are currently reporting, “zero waste to landfill” Bronze medal for sustainability During July, we were also delighted to share some very positive news on our sustainability journey regarding our second EcoVadis Sustainability Assessment. Whilst we had hoped for a smoother ride this time around, EcoVadis kept us on our toes with a newly updated framework and criteria with which to comply. That said, in true Davies Turner fashion, we met the challenge head-on—and came out stronger. I was proud to report a 13-point improvement on our previous score, rising from 48 to 61. This fantastic result has earned us a Bronze Medal and placed us within the top 35 percent of companies assessed worldwide.

Receiving the fifth consecutive RoSPA award

Sustainability in the freight forwarding and logistics sector is no easy feat, making this achievement even more rewarding and a reflection of the ongoing support from the Board and the exceptional collaboration with teams throughout the business this year. With planning already underway for our 2026 submission, we are looking forward to building on this success. Ongoing support It goes without saying that all the achievements made over recent years, together with the EcoVadis medal during 2025, were only possible with everybody’s ongoing support.

Fifth consecutive RoSPA Gold Award in recognition of the high standards of health and safety performance “ ”

Staff generosity through fundraising events and dress down days also raised over £5,000 in donations to worthy causes - so thank you one and all. Finally, we would like to take this opportunity to wish you all wonderful Christmas and New Year, 2026 will likely be as busy and hopefully successful for Davies Turner.

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NEWS Customs brokerage: A success story resulting from Brexit

Martin Leigh, Customs Compliance Manager, takes a look at the positive impact of Brexit on Davies Turner’s Customs brokerage services.

H aving worked in the Customs clearance sector for many years, I could recognise the opportunities Brexit could restore to the industry, which were lost in 1993. For those who may not recall, or been around at that time, the Single

The service is intended for clients wishing to use Davies Turner for clearances when we are not the carrier of the goods. A team was assembled to support customers and guide them through the initial challenges, operatives are based in Southampton and Hams Hall. Thanks to your leads and support we have seen steady growth year on year, this year is set to be another record for the brokerage department with profits set to exceed over half a million pounds. Earn extra pounds Remember, if you do receive any enquiries from customers asking if we can arrange a clearance for them, your branch could earn extra revenue by doing very little. Please feel free to forward the details to BROKERAGE@DAVIESTURNER.CO.UK and we will do the rest! If we go on to arrange one, or multiple ongoing clearances, your branch will receive 20 percent of what we make on each clearance. If you did want to discuss an opportunity with me directly, please feel free to drop me an email or call me on 4619. With your continued support, and that of the brokerage team, there are no limits to what we can achieve. A big thank you from your brokerage team: Martin, Sam, Delphi, Alex, Gosia, Michelle, Victoria, Adam. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Market was introduced on the 1st January 1993. Although it was perceived as a step forward, it abruptly devastated the Customs clearance sector in both the UK and mainland Europe. As a result, businesses were compelled to adapt in order to survive. However, many smaller clearance firms, especially in port towns, were forced to close their doors forever. Capitalising on the opportunities Following the Brexit referendum in 2016, and subsequent negotiations, the UK was scheduled to exit the Single Market on 31st December 2020. Preparations were in place within Davies Turner, and discussions were had, on how best to capitalise on this opportunity and offer a brokerage service to our customers dealing with EU trade.

Notable achievements by the team since January 2021 • Assisted over 600 customers with their clearance requirements. • Completed a total of over 25,000 entries • Generated a gross profit of over £2 million • An average ‘kick back’ to branches of over £6,000 per month.

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NEWS

DT Academy hits 3,000 completed courses

T o expand our on-line training platform – Davies Turner Academy – and as well as creating “compliance” courses we have now introduced a small number of operational courses which we will continue to develop in 2026. Since we launched the training platform in 2023 nearly 3,000 courses have been completed which is amazing and now that DT Academy is established we will be widening access so our warehouse and driver colleagues can also undertake training on-line.

To access DT Academy simply visit SharePoint, DT Academy and logon with your normal details – you will be then taken to your dashboard. If there are any areas or subjects you think we could create a course for, and that would be beneficial to you and your colleagues, please drop Caroline Piper an email with your thoughts and suggestions. Need to add Caroline Piper’s email: carolinepiper@daviesturner.co.uk

Alliance with project44 renewed E arlier this year, we extended our partnership with project44, a global leader in supply chain visibility, for an additional three years. This renewed collaboration underscores our commitment to innovation and delivering exceptional tracking solutions across our logistics operations. Since the partnership began in 2022, project44 has played a pivotal role in enhancing our ocean freight tracking capabilities, providing real-time updates from origin port to destination port. Over the past three years, this technology has enabled tracking for more than 63,000 containers, significantly improving shipment visibility and operational efficiency throughout the supply chains we manage. By integrating project44’s platform, we continue to optimise our processes, supporting systems such as FMS and P2D, while empowering both our teams and customers with enhanced decision-making capabilities. dedicated trailer fleet to 35 high-specification units, reflecting rising demand in the fashion, retail, and automotive sectors. The new trailers feature steel walls, roofs, and doors, offering superior protection against break-ins and stowaways. All trailers are also fitted with GPS satellite tracking and remote door monitoring systems, ensuring real-time visibility and security throughout the transport process. W e have further strengthened our commitment to the thriving UK, Ireland, and Morocco trade routes by expanding our fleet of Krone hanging garment mega trailers. The latest investment brings the company’s Morocco Krone trailer fleet increases in size

As technology continues to evolve, we remain dedicated to providing precise, timely, and actionable tracking data, ensuring we stay at the forefront of excellence in logistics.

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Celebrating the launch of our e-commerce department July 2025 saw the launch of Davies Turner Air Cargo’s e-commerce department, writes Oliver Simmons - General Manager, Heathrow Services ACROSS THE MODES: AIR

T his is a milestone marking a new chapter in our business. e-commerce is rapidly transforming

end global parcel logistics, setting the foundation for scalable, international growth. Two key members of our e-commerce leadership team are Robbie Stirrat, e-commerce Supervisor, who manages the physical operation with dedication and precision, ensuring all parcels move

Since the launch, we’ve secured our first major account, adding an impressive one million kilogrammes of business. This win also kick started two new trade lanes; in the USA and Israel, expanding our global reach and demonstrating our ability to onboard clients. None of this would have been possible without the support from our Heathrow warehouse team. Their commitment, adaptability, and teamwork have been vital in making this launch a success. As we continue onboarding our first big client, we’re also preparing for what promises to be our busiest peak season ever. Looking into 2026, we are in discussions with three additional clients, and are hopeful of bringing them onboard. This Christmas, we’re not just celebrating the holidays — we’re celebrating progress, innovation, and teamwork. Thank you to all who played a part. Here’s to a joyful festive season and an even more successful 2026.

the air cargo sector. We’re positioning ourselves at the forefront of this booming business. Global demand for fast, reliable parcel logistics is rising; our new department is designed to secure a firm spot in this growing market; bringing innovation, agility, and scalability to our operations. Technology that delivers In July 2025, we launched our state-of the-art fully automated Parcel Sortation System, featuring: Dim, Weigh, Scan & Photo; two label applicators and 16-way sortation. This system has proven its worth, enabling us to handle high volumes with precision and speed. We also introduced Skyline, a purpose built e-commerce operating system, which integrates with final mile delivery partners, allowing us to offer end-to

smoothly through our systems, and Awwad Nshewat, our e-commerce solutions manager, who onboards new clients and integrates key partners. In addition to these team leaders, we have Rebecca Barnes, e-commerce Supervisor, Bryony Gallagher, operations, Tiffany O’Neill, operations and Abigail Osborne, operations. All play an integral

Their expertise and energy have been key in getting us off to a flying start ” “

part in the growth of our new vertical, providing the department’s backbone. Their expertise and energy have been key in getting us off to a flying start.

Aviation Logistics Network meets in Beijing

D TAC was one of three founding partners of the ALN, which was launched in 2006 and now consists of 85 businesses, covering over 430 locations worldwide serving the aerospace industry. More than 65,000 staff are employed by all the ALN partners, and the network has an annual turnover in freight billings in excess of six billion US dollars. This makes ALN the world’s largest independent network dedicated to the aerospace industry. The rapid expansion being seen in China’s aerospace sector, made Beijing the logical location for ALN’s 2025 conference. DTAC handles emergency parts and spares shipments for 14

airlines throughout China, including Air China. Much of the talk at the event was the forecasts by Boeing and Airbus that between now and 2044, the commercial aircraft fleet will almost double from the current 24,730 aircraft in commercial service worldwide to 49,220 aircraft. Asia as a whole will take 47 percent of all aircraft new orders with China alone taking 9,570 new aircraft (478 a year over the next 20 years). ALN is administered full time from Heathrow and provides sales and marketing services to its members at specialist trade fares and events, allied to the ALN website www.aln.aero

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SPACE

Space Logistics Network ships satellites to Space X

M any readers will know that almost 20 years ago Davies Turner Air Cargo was a key founding partner of the Aviation Logistics Network. From a tiny start with just three agents in the network, today the organisation has over 80 partners working in over 430 global locations serving the needs of the world’s airlines and maintenance organisations that keep the commercial aircraft fleet in the air. So what do we do as an exciting follow up? How about “space the final frontier” to borrow a well-known catch phrase from Star Trek. Enter the Space Logistics Network. So just how do you transport a satellite worth millions of dollars, with over one hundred million dollars of research and development put into it. The answer ... very carefully! The advent of the commercialisation of space has led to a massive increase in commercial companies providing all kinds of services to do with space. Starting with satellites, there are scheduled to be over 40,000 launched over the next decade into low earth orbit. These systems are much smaller than the historic large geostationary systems (which typically needed a huge freighter aircraft to transport them). Now your average low earth orbit satellite weighs anything from 50 to 350 kilos, is very compact, and therefore lends itself to commercial air freight. At Davies Turner Air Cargo, we are at the forefront of moving this exciting new type of technology. The first two satellites we handled were transported to Vandenburg Airforce base where they were mated to the Falcon 9 launch system operated by Space X, which then blasted into space with our payload, and that of others, on board. Logistics jigsaw The movement of these satellite systems is but one part of the logistics jigsaw. There is a whole supply chain that is dedicated to providing parts, specialist sensors and components that go into the manufacture of these satellites. Our goal moving forward is to target the following sectors: Parts supply chain for satellite production; launch service providers who will provide rocket launch services for the 40,000 systems to be launched over the next decade; and, satellite manufacturers who will need to transport their systems from test to launch site (either by air or road). You will not be surprised to learn, there are very strict rules concerning the commercial contracts involved in dealing with the developers of this next generation of cutting edge technology. Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) are commonly issued which limit the information that can be disclosed when entering into the transportation, or the RFQ stage.

However, in addition to arranging the dispatch of two satellites to the Falcon 9 launch site, we have NDAs for services in 2026 with two major satellite manufacturers (one of whom manufactures in space). We also have NDAs with two launch sites in the UK; one already operational, and one under development, to coordinate the movement of Low Earth Orbit systems to the relevant launch locations. A further NDA is in place to move a dedicated

The Space Logistics Network stand at the Space-Comm Exhibition held at the London Excel Centre in March. The exhibition had over 5,000 visitors and 200 exhibitors. Space Logistics Network is the only logistics network to have exhibited.

launch system for installation in the UK, and we are working with a major supplier of the European Space Agency to look at supply chain issues for satellite manufacturing in the UK.

The Falcon 9 rocket (pictured below left) launch profile illustration (above) shows what happens on take off, deployment of the satellites, and the incredible re-entry of the rocket which lands on a floating platform at sea.

Satellite in bespoke crate which is anti -static, proofed against humidity, and sealed to prevent foreign object damage. 6

Satellites are assembled in a clean room environment to prevent contamination.

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LOGISTICS

Significant accomplishments mark good year for logistics Zoe Baldwin, Contracts Manager at Davies Turner Logistics reports on a year of big expansion for the group’s newest subsidiary A s we approach the end of another year, it’s time to reflect on our accomplishments and Hornby Hobbies is set to become one of our biggest customers, the scale of the project required to go live was a monumental challenge. Adding to the complexity, Vegware, another major customer, also went live at the same time. This was no small feat.

celebrate the incredible progress we’ve made. This year, we set a clear focus on bringing new customers into Davies Turner Logistics, given that many of our sites were seeing empty space towards the end of 2024. And what a success it has been. The exceptional success of our sales efforts during 2025 has kept the operations team incredibly busy across all our sites, as they work hard to bring onboard all our new customers. These include Vegware, Hornby Hobbies, Commercial Carpet Tiles, Toshiba, Nimbus homeware, All Pet Solutions, Genpower, Securitas and Scheppach UK. Attracting this additional business is a testament to the trust and confidence that new customers have in the services we provide.

Key achievements Highlights of the work undertaken for these two clients were the project management of complex requirements. The team expertly handled the challenging requirements of both accounts, coordinating efforts across multiple departments to ensure a seamless launch. The team also oversaw the development and implementation of the significant infrastructure needed to support both Hornby and Vegware. At the same time the team quickly mastered new processes for picking and packing, implementing them efficiently and effectively. Meanwhile a significant investment in training ensured that over 100 new staff members were fully equipped to meet the standards required for these accounts.

Remarkable team effort: Celebrating dedication The Atherstone Operations Team has delivered an outstanding performance this year, successfully managing the onboarding of two of Davies Turner Logistics’ largest accounts simultaneously.

Illustration showing the huge uplift in volume Atherstone managed from week 22.

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LOGISTICS

It should not be forgotten that the team operates around the clock, working tirelessly, with day and night shifts. Remarkable flexibility was also shown by the team in handling several last-minute requests for process adjustments from customers, which both have highly specific and complex packing and dispatch needs. Processing and quality control The team has processed and quality-checked over three million units of Hornby stock stored in the warehouse and over the first three months of the contract, consistently picked over 100,000 units per week, an incredible achievement in such a short period of time. While the journey to this point has been demanding, the Atherstone Operations Team has overcome every hurdle with determination and professionalism. Their dedication and hard work have been key in ensuring the operation runs smoothly, and our customers are happy. Managing director, Emily Stephenson says: “The DTL Directors and I would like to extend our sincere thanks to everyone who has supported Atherstone during this period. A particularly special thank you to those in Atherstone who have truly gone above and beyond, working all hours of the day, often very anti-social hours. “Our thanks also goes out to DTC/DTG and DTL staff who have stepped in to support with TUPE consultations, to colleagues from other branches who have willingly jumped in to lend a hand on the shop floor. We also cannot forget the patience and cooperation from those trying to arrange inbound/outbound booking slots. Looking ahead W e’re also making significant strides internationally. This year, we secured and went live with our first customers at the EU facility, which we operate in partnership with Jan de Rijk (see page 12). These customers include: Dryrobe EU, Mancave Cosmetics, Footasylum, as well as Larry King, which is expected to go live in 2026. It’s an exciting development that strengthens our international reach and is another service we can offer our customers. A key contract extension: Lovehoney One of the many standout achievements of the year has been securing a 5-year contract extension with Lovehoney. After a successful tender process, we are incredibly proud to continue our long-standing relationship with Lovehoney for another five years. This contract extension is not just a win for Davies Turner, but reflects of the strong bond we’ve built with Lovehoney over the last eight years. Bristol’s dedication to delivering exceptional service and consistent results played a significant role in securing this extension. Scheppach UK: A remarkable achievement Another exciting success story comes from Scheppach UK, which specialises in the design and manufacture of high-quality woodworking machinery and power tools.

“We have never witnessed such a powerful display of team work, camaraderie and the true Davies Turner spirit. “We are hugely grateful for your dedication and hard work.” Looking ahead to 2026 As we look forward to the new year, we are excited about the opportunities in the pipeline. We have a number of open quotes and tenders in progress, and we are optimistic about their success. With available space in both our UK and EU warehouses, we’re in a strong position to continue expanding. Given the remarkable success we’ve seen this year, I’m confident that 2026 will bring even more growth and achievement for Davies Turner Logistics. Since launching in the UK, Scheppach has experienced phenomenal growth, selling 10,000 units and reaching £1 million turnover in just six months. This is a fantastic result, and it highlights the impact of our service and team support. Lewis Anderson, MD of Scheppach UK, appreciates that support, commenting thus: “Please pass on my thanks to all of the team, as I think from zero to this in six months is testament to everyone’s hard work and effort. It would not have been possible for us to achieve this without the support from everyone at Davies Turner. I am extremely confident that the next six months will only be much more!”

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LOGISTICS

A warm welcome to Jan de Rijk

Craig Slater, Global Accounts Sales and Development Manager, provides an introduction to Davies Turner Logistics’ new Dutch connection and gateway to EU Logistics.

I n 2024, the challenge began to find a partner to support Davies Turner Logistics’ growth and Logistics service capabilities within the EU. The aim was simple, let us find a like-minded company with the infrastructure, capabilities and

of Dryrobe product from factory floor through to the customer door. In July, our second customer Footasylum (DTC Manchester) began utilising our new services to support the B2B movement of its products to Zalando, JD Sports and most recently, 60 retail stores across Europe. Under the watchful eye of Abbie Whelan (DTC Manchester), who coordinates the FCL/LCL movements, customs clearance, duty recovery, port transfer and delivery into JDR. Not forgetting at times managing four to five full trailer load dispatches per day from JDR into Footasylum’s customer base, as well as monitoring one to twenty carton deliveries per store for the 60 locations we currently service. If that was not enough, there is also the occasional new pick request for a modest 10-12,000 garments Footasylum would like us to pick, palletise and deliver (normally required ASAP) to a new EU customer. Never a dull moment on Abbie’s desk! Latest client now on board Our most recent customer is Mancave (DTL Bristol), which began transferring stock for EU inventory to fulfil online sales through its EU website, which we now distribute across Europe as well as delivering to Amazon. Mancave has high ambitions within the EU, hoping to achieve 100,000 orders per year for its EU client base within as little as three years. Therefore, if you’re ever in the EU on holiday and forget your shampoo, place an order, we will handle it for you. (Don’t worry Alan Williams, they also do beard creams as the shampoo would be a bit unnecessary!) There is a lot of excitement and opportunity for Davies Turner Logistics within the EU. We are currently having discussions with a number of customers that would like to utilise our services, some of which come onboard as early as the first quarter of 2026. So watch this space and, Merry Christmas!

ambition to expand our presence in the market and of course, no intention of setting up shop in the UK and becoming a competitor. Well, after the first trip into Belgium and the Netherlands, constantly losing phone signal when crossing borders, driving into multiple warehouse yards unannounced for a quick snoop (thank you Emily), we found what we were looking for. Somewhere to get dinner, The Fox and Hound.

Using our research and notes from the first trip, the route was tweaked and we found ourselves in Roosendaal, Netherlands. A quiet area but brimming with logistics activity. Major players such as CEVA, GXO, DHL and many more are all present in the Roosendaal Logistics Hub including our now partner JDR. Jan de Rijk is a family business like Davies Turner, but is somewhat younger having been established in 1971, but is still owned and operated by the de Rijk family. It has approximately 80,000 sq m of warehousing capacity supported by a strong truck and trailer fleet and roughly 1200 employees. Working relationship from February 2025 Our working relationship commenced in February 2025 with our first customer Dryrobe. This involved shipping product from the UK via our Smart Border service, and via air, ocean and rail modes from Dryrobe’s global supply base directly into Rotterdam before being transferred to our base of operations in the JDR Roosendaal facility where our on-site dedicated team takes over the physical operations. Through Zoe Baldwin (DTL Bristol) and Bethany Force (DTC Bristol) supported by Charlotte Chamberlain (DTL Bristol) we now coordinate the B2C & B2B supply chain management

Cake made for the start of the contract in NL

Zoe Baldwin, contracts manager; Craig Slatter, Davy Duijndam, Nick Broeren on a visit to DTL (Bristol)

JDR Family sporting Dryrobe garments

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LOGISTICS

JDR Team: Craig Slatter, Davy Duijndam, Nick Broeren, Robert Gabara, Customer Service Representative (JDR)

FootAsylum performance review meeting with JDR Management team in Roosendaal

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A year of growth, resilience and team spirit Reviewing the activities in our road division in 2025, the road leadership team says it was all about adapting to change ROAD

I n another year characterised by changes in customs and border processes, we reflect on our preparedness and continued collaboration to remain compliant and deliver best in-class service. ICS2 and forthcoming changes to regime 42 (Smart Border) have further demonstrated the high regard in which we are held during times of change. While competitors fight for position on social media, our calm and professional approach is helping clients navigate new rules with confidence. Changing of the guard We welcomed Barry Tucker to the European Management team in September, taking the baton from Angela Kennedy. Barry’s focus will be on putting his own stamp on the department alongside the capable Manchester Export team. 2026 will also bring leadership changes in the Coleshill European department, but with home-grown talent ready at all levels, these handovers promise to be smooth and successful. Platinum jubilee This year marked 70 years of cooperation with Müller Gysin in Switzerland . Founded in 1933 Müller Gysin is our longest serving Road partner. In 1955 as Sir Winston Churchill resigned, and the Warsaw Pact was signed in response to NATO, our famously neutral friends in Basel began serving our clients in the UK—Swiss trade.

The service launched at the beginning of November and already we are seeing volumes well ahead of expectations, and sales colleagues are working through some significant sales leads. Control Tower news It’s been another busy year at the Dartford Control Tower, handling an impressive 2,400 partner-paid import jobs each month — up from 2,330 in 2024. This growth is a testament to

the team’s commitment to efficiency, accuracy, and exceptional service. Despite customs hurdles and the occasional delivery challenge, the team has kept freight moving with market leading transit times. Export CPOs Our export team has delivered a strong performance, driving major improvements across Europe. Weekly departures to Prague now run in collaboration with Manchester LPO, cutting costs and boosting competitiveness in theCzech Republic. The German service, after a challenging start involving swap bodies in January, now offers improved transit times and restores pre-Brexit schedules alongside the Netherlands service, supported by Davies Turner Air Cargo’s night-desk customs team. Daily departures using swap bodies between Birmingham, Dartford and Mönchengladbach add 40 cu m of feeder space each way, optimising costs. We’re also proud to be ICS2/ELO ready two months ahead of schedule — paving Bristol has seen an evolving customer landscape, with some consolidating EU shipments and others increasing shipment sizes. While we bid farewell to a long-standing customer moving to EU warehousing, we’ve welcomed new opportunities, including Seasalt Clothing and Wiska, with more on the horizon. Our growth in logistics storage and pick-and-pack services has been a highlight, and we’re excited to partner with Davies Turner Logistics to expand these capabilities. As the Control Tower for Davies Turner’s Portugal service, we’ve transitioned from Noatum to Torrestir and look forward to building a strong relationship. the way for a successful 2026. Many changes at Bristol

Danny & Jason with Tommy Baumann MD M ü ller Gysin

The friendship endures, and at the Transport Logistics event in Munich this year Danny and Jason were presented with a commemorative Swiss Cowbell by managing director Tommy Baumann. Something old, something new From the oldest partner, to our most recent. Not known for making unnecessary partner changes, we have over a number of years been researching fresh options on the Portuguese market, but had not taken the leap. A fresh and exciting opportunity came to us late in August, and a last-minute trip to Porto allowed us to strike a new deal with Torrestir, a leading family-owned company headquartered in Porto.

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ROAD

Strong second half for Manchester At our Manchester Control Tower, the year began slowly due to economic challenges in Germany, but recovery since September has been encouraging. Both German partners have secured new business with UK distribution points, including Amazon. Gebrüder Weiss introduced its first electric truck — a bold step towards sustainability — and we’re working together to support this initiative, with the aim to see this vehicle in the UK very soon. On the team front, congratulations to Kieran Chadwick for completing a Freight Forwarding Apprenticeship with

keeps us focussed on digital tracking and data quality – and further initiatives are due in 2026. Focus on Spain With volumes below what we knew was possible, we have focussed our attentions on the Spanish market in the second half of the year, with remarkable success. Selling predominantly from the desk, alongside sales support and with regular update meetings we have seen some remarkable achievements. The number of quotes issued was up 21 percent; client numbers up by 25.8 percent, and payloads increased by 22.5 percent. The regular update meetings held in response to the Spanish campaign have proved extremely successful in bringing our teams together, sharing ideas and responsibilities and ensuring information is received in good time and in a uniform way. We will maintain these throughout 2026 as a means to cover a wide range of subjects. To all our teams: thank you for your hard work, resilience, and collaboration throughout 2025. You’ve helped to exceed expectations this year. Here’s to an exciting and prosperous 2026.

The first Torrestir trailer arrives in Dartford

distinction, and a warm welcome back to Sarah Macmanus after maternity leave. The Manchester team remains focused and motivated as we head into 2026. System Alliance Europe Quality remains at the heart of our System Alliance Europe operations. Building on 2024’s progress, we’re on track for a second consecutive year achieving a bonus overall — a fantastic reflection of our dedication. Our efforts were recognised at the SAE General Assembly in Budapest, where we proudly received the Bronze Award in the quality category for companies handling over 10,000 shipments. Michael Smith, who monitors DT’s compliance in this area represents us on the SAE quality committee and attended a meeting in Switzerland in September. Membership of SAE

SAE quality team, with Michael Smith pictured on the right of the front row

Full, part load and dedicated services in focus

J ust over a year ago, we decided to really focus on three key areas of the business: Full, Part Load, and Dedicated services, writes Marc Davis, full load development manager. Since then, we’ve seen consistent growth in enquiries, a higher secure rate, and improved revenue. By having a clear focus, the strategy was simple but effective. By working closely with all the hubs and using approved hauliers on the EU register, we increased our buying power. This has made us more competitive in the market, which has been a big advantage.

The teamwork between Operations and Sales has been crucial. By focusing on quotes every month and keeping communication tight, we’ve been able to hold onto existing customers and bring in new ones. Looking ahead to 2026, the goal is clear: continue growing these services, bring in more customers, and expand the range of products we offer.

The haulage alliance between Davies Turner and Transport Equipment Services Ltd (TES) took another step forward this year when a pair of vehicles from Renault’s T-High range, recently acquired by TES, went into operation for Davies Turner. Equipped with the latest security, telematics, and driver comfort technology, these new units are supporting our nationwide and European logistics operations.

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OCEAN AND RAIL

Rolling the dice and keeping fingers crossed

Zoe Newman uses a variety of board game analogies to summarise the world of ocean and rail for Davies Turner in 2025

L ife is like a board game – every roll of the dice brings new possibilities, and the key is to make the most of what comes your way, even if it’s not exactly what you wished for! This year, our ocean freight services

On top of this, we’ve made significant strides in cross-trade business, efficiently moving goods from China to Canada and the USA, leveraging Manitoulin’s Transpacific expertise. The cards are certainly stacked in our favour, and we’re excited to see where this winning streak takes us! Battleships turns into Jenga Our Asian ocean services have continued to grapple with the disruption caused by Houthi rebels, providing us with a sobering version of Battleships on the high seas. To mitigate

team has felt like it has been navigating through a festive assortment of classic Christmas games — filled with strategy and surprises. From overcoming challenges to seizing opportunities, we’ve tackled each situation with the same energy and excitement as a lively round of holiday fun. Each “game” has come with its own rules and lessons, and we’ve worked hard to ensure every move leads to progress and success. Here’s a glimpse at the “games” we’ve been navigating throughout the year. Top Trumps: US Trade Tariffs Edition 2025 Welcome to our first game where strategy took a backseat to unpredictability. *Top Trumps*: US Trade Tariffs - 2025 Edition! Forget memorising statistics; under Donald Trump’s tariff rollercoaster, playing along felt more like poker with a magician who kept swapping out the cards. The ever-changing tariff policies left businesses guessing rather than planning, creating chaos for ocean freight services as shippers rushed to move goods into the USA, ahead of the threatened tariff hikes, leading to tight space availability and freight rate hikes. The ripple effects didn’t stop at US shores. Carriers prioritised profitable Atlantic routes, leaving Asian markets short on capacity and shaking up global traffic flows and rates. Adding to the turbulence, October saw new port fees targeting Chinese vessels — though, true to form, President Trump reconsidered his stance yet again. Watching these policy shifts unfold has felt like watching a toddler at play — throwing a tantrum when the game doesn’t go their way. The fallout of Trump’s tampering has been significant for global trade and has also negatively impacted our own US volumes, resulting in our revenues taking an eight percent hit. In short, it’s been a rollercoaster ride — without the thrill — and there are still three more years to go – best we buckle up! Playing your cards right in Canada While our US services have landed us in the winner’s circle, Canada has been an entirely different story — one that’s had us cheering, “higher, higher!” In true Play Your Cards Right fashion, and we’ve traded a mediocre hand for a winning one. Alongside DTAC, we’ve forged a new partnership with Manitoulin Global Freight (MGF) for ocean and air services. Since the partnership’s launch in July, what was once a modest bimonthly consolidation box to Canada, is now averaging two 40 foot High Cube containers per week destined for Montreal. This growth isn’t just about numbers; it’s about teamwork. MGF’s Sales Manager, Troy Cowen, has led a successful sales campaign in the UK, engaging with our team and prospective clients to drive results. MGF Operations Manager Kam Joll, then visited our Manchester, Birmingham, and Dartford hubs, helping strengthen the collaborative ties between our organisations and our teams.

Pictured left to right: John Adams, Kam Joll and Tony Cole

risks, most carriers have opted to continue with the longer but safer route via the Cape of Good Hope. With a fragile peace agreement now in place (at the time of writing), the global shipping industry is preparing for its next challenge — akin to a high-stakes game of Jenga. Over the past two years, additional tonnage has been allocated to support the extended transits of the Cape route. A sudden shift back to the Suez Canal would lead to excess capacity, misaligned equipment, and volatile rates, threatening market stability. The industry faces the delicate task of maintaining balance, whether at sea or in strategic planning. As seasoned players in this complex game, we are confident in our ability to navigate these challenges and emerge successful. Risk comes into play for express rail Our trusted ally for our Asian ocean services is our highly sought-after China rail freight service, which has achieved a consistent average transit time of just 18 days. However, much like an unexpected plot twist in a game of Risk, mid-September brought unforeseen challenges when Poland suddenly closed its borders, following 21 Russian drones infiltrating its airspace, and bringing our rail operations to an abrupt halt. With rail services generating over £1.5 million for DT last year, maintaining the momentum is unquestionably part of our strategy. Each day, we held our breath, waiting for the border to reopen, which after two nail-biting weeks, it did. Since then, the rail team has been working hard to rebuild the service, laser-focused on reclaiming their crown for speed and

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