Jobs in store as Clipper seals 10-year Asda deal

Clipper is building a 350,000 sq ft plant in Wynyard, near Teesport, which is scheduled to open by August 2012.

Clipper has secured a 10-year deal with Leeds-based supermarket chain Asda to provide logistics services at the site for the George clothing business.

In 2009, Clipper opened a centre in Darlington to distribute the George clothing range. This operation already handles more than 55 million units per year.

The development at Wynyard is part of Clipper’s strategy to invest in “portcentric solutions” – in other words, distribution centres that are close to ports.

Asda distribution director Ian Stansfield said yesterday: “Clipper has proven to be an invaluable partner to our business.

“On the strength of this success, and our growing clothing business, we have taken the unprecedented step of signing this 10-year contract.”

Clipper managing director Tony Mannix said: “These developments perfectly complement our retail and e-fulfilment capabilities and confirm our position as the UK’s leading retail logistics specialist.”

The company’s chairman, Steve Parkin, said: “Our belief that portcentric solutions are integral to the future of the retail logistics industry is represented by our investment in this new super-centre for Teesport. This move further cements our position as the UK’s leading provider.”

The Clipper Group was founded by entrepreneur Mr Parkin in 1992 with one van delivering clothing for fashion stores.

It has grown rapidly in recent years through a combination of organic growth and acquisitions.

The acquisition of Gagewell Transport in 2001 dramatically enhanced Clipper’s position in the logistics market and created a company with a turnover of £16m.

Other acquisitions followed and, in December 2005, Clipper bought Northern Commercials, the Iveco and Fiat truck and van dealer based in Brighouse and Leeds, which took group sales beyond £120m.

Speaking in October, Mr Parkin said: “Our goal is to continue to develop and grow our business, and to achieve a stock market listing within the next five years.”

Clipper has two commercial vehicle businesses within the group, as well as an expanding logistics business in Germany.

Earlier this month, Clipper revealed that it had reported six- month revenues of £91.5m, an increase of 13 per cent on the same period last year.

In an interview with the Yorkshire Post in 2008, Mr Parkin said his long-term objective for Clipper was to create a £1bn turnover business.

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