Erratic client behaviour hits Stobart

Stobart Group, whose trucks are a common sight on Britain’s motorways, said shorter notice, inaccurate customer forecasting and fluctuations in volume disrupted trade between May and July.

However, Stobart said August trading had “improved materially” and forecast a stronger second half of the year.

Elsewhere, the company saw progress in its air division, as London Southend Airport, which it owns, signed a deal with budget airline easyJet. The airport’s rail station, operated by Stobart Rail, also opened in July.

Eddie Stobart has more than 2,250 vehicles and seven million square feet of warehousing across the UK.