NWF beats the weather to deliver the goods

The firm, which delivers heating oil, diesel and petrol to individuals and small filling stations across the country, said freezing weather across the country had boosted profits in its fuel division since the end of November, but serving rural communities had proved a challenge.

Chief executive Richard Whiting said the firm, which also manufactures and distributes food for one in seven dairy cows in Britain, said one sales representative drove 60 miles from north Devon into Cornwall to reach a farmer who had not had feed for six days.

The company also delivers long shelf-life food – including Typhoo Tea, Lavazza coffee and Blue Dragon products – to major supermarkets and did not miss a delivery despite the snow.

Mr Whiting said that while the fuel business benefited from increased demand for heating oil in the cold weather, the feed and food divisions did not see a rise in revenues but stood to benefit from customers' appreciation of their delivery efforts.

NWF, which began its life as a farmers' co-operative in 1871, has

plants in Ayr, Penrith and Devon supplying Britain's dairy herds.

The Nantwich, Cheshire-based group also has distribution centres for its fuel and food divisions across the country.

It reported an 11 per cent rise in pre-tax profits for the six months to November 30, at 2m.