TNT wins contracts from Rockwood
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• TNT Premier Distribution, launched in June, has plucked three plum distribution contracts from ex-customers of fallen giant Rockwood Distribution Services (CM 14-20 June).
Together the three contracts are worth one million cases a year, according to TNT, and involve nationwide distribution for Ritter's Chocolate UK and an unnamed firm. Tir third contract is with Tate & Lyle to operate distribution from its Avonmouth depot throughout the Bristol and South Wales area.
General Manager of TNT Premier Distribution, David Grahamslaw, says the three contracts will mean more jobs for drivers and warehouse staff, which the firm is busy recruiting. He believes that more ex-Rockwood contracts will be won. "We are talking to a number of other companies who were clients of Rockwood," he says, while TNT's managing director Alan Jones claims the group has been "inundated" with enquiries from firms desperate to find a new distributor following Rockwood's collapse. TNT was unable to say how many extra vehicles the three contracts will employ.
Disposal of the Rockwood Group is nearing completion with confirmation of the sale of Rockwood Secure Distribution to Inter Forward, part of the Swedish group Ratos.
The deal gives Inter Forward a UK presence in tobac co, wine and spirits distribution. President Hans Bergstrom says the purchase is part of Inter Forward's plan to become a major player in the European distribution industry.
RSD, which will be renamed Bondelivery, runs more than 300 vehicles out of 19 depots nationwide, and employs 700. Annual turnover is about £20m.
Both Rockwood Distribution Services and Rockwood International Freight have ceased trading because a suitable buyer could not be found by receivers Cork Gully, making up to 1,400 redundant.
A Dutch and a Californian company are reportedly showing an interest in the remaining division, Rockwood Fleet Services.