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Laser upbeat after disappointing year
Page 8
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LOGISTICS OPERATOR Laser Transport has had a "very disappointing year" with a pre-tax loss of almost £130.000 for 2004.
The Hythe-based company, which also handles international transport and freight forwarding, increased its turnover by more than £800,000 from the previous year. But poor returns from fleet operations and UK distribution, with poor growth and reduced margins in the German market, led to a £260,000 fall in its profits.
However, the company says steps taken to improve fleet performance have "borne fruit" and there are signs of "some very encouraging upward trends in 2005".
Referring to the £60,000 contract membership fee paid to freight forwarding network Palletways, it adds:-We are also hopeful that the rate negotiations in the Palletways Distribution Service will achieve the much improved margins to be expected from this significant investment."
Director Nick Charlesworth says the company has been a member of the Palle tways network since November 2003, and while investment costs relating to it affected its profits in 2004, its trading position has now strengthened.
christopher.findall@rbi.cosuk