Broad base for survival
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• Sussex haulier JJ Adam has warned transport operators not to depend on one industry if they want to survive during the current recession.
The Polegate-based company has 650 customers and reckons it is riding out the recession better than most because its 60 strong fleet carries a wide variety of goods—unlike tipper operators who are relying on the depressed construction industry for business.
"As one customer's business drops off, another picks up," says operations manager Christopher Adams, grandson of founder
Jules Adams. Despite this, JJ Adam's 1990/91 profits are not expected to exceed 4% of its £4.5m turnover.
The company has just clinched two nationwide contracts: one with fan maker APV Ventaxia, worth £200,000 a year; and the other with Playtime Foods, worth £100,000, to distribute popcorn to the Odeon and Cannon cinema chains.
JJ Adam is hoping to persuade up to 15 of its drivers to become owner-operators within the next five years as part of a cost-cutting exercise.
"But we will guarantee them work," says managing director Jim Hardisty.
By the end of the month the company expects to have signed a contradeal with a French haulier to provide a Continental return load service. This will add to its European operation, Dutch-based Adam International, which includes an air freight operation, Adam Air. Export reward • Leyland Dal will receive its Queen's Award for Export Achievement 1991 on 25 June from the Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire, Simon Towneley.
Blokes expands • Blakes Chilled Distribution Service has opened a Om chilled food distribution centre at Alcester, Warks. It will supply supermarket chains including Sainsbury's, Tesco, Safeway, Asda and Gateway.