Yorkshire based freight forwarders Zenith expect record turnover
A boost in exports by Yorkshire manufacturers, coupled with strong international sales, have put Bradford freight forwarders Zenith International on track to achieve record turnover of £30m this year.
Direct selling of the company’s global freight forwarding services to clients in Europe, the Far East, Canada and the United States has increased international sales by 68 per cent to £5m in just two years.
This has led to Zenith being listed as one of Britain’s fastest growing international companies in the latest Sunday Times/HSBC ‘top 200’ league table, based on last year’s turnover. The company came in at number 66 in this national league table.
“We travel the world in search of new business,” says director Colin Usher, who launched Zenith International Freight with colleagues Phillip Bell and John Lambert 13 years ago.
He added: “Our business has increased by almost 15 per cent since April so we fully expect turnover to exceed £30m this financial year.”
Much of this growth underscores encouraging trends. Many of the company’s clients in the Bradford district and elsewhere in the region are exporting more, including food, textiles, machinery, electronic equipment and engineering components.
World maps on the walls of Zenith House are not there to impress visitors. Around 75 per cent of the company’s business comes from worldwide air or sea freight with the balance from pan-European freight forwarding. Most air freight is shipped through Leeds Bradford or Manchester airports using a range of airlines, for whom Zenith are a big cargo customer.
“We are an international company based on strong Yorkshire values,” says Colin. “Our clients, large and small, include local, national and international businesses who need our specialised services and know they can speak to one of the Zenith team in person, day or night, whatever their time zone.”