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Profits over 5 0 /0 at MRS following M BO SCOTLAND-BASED general
Page 18
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haulier MRS Distribution boosted its pre-tax profits above 5% of turnover for the year to 31 March. Its turnover increased from£28.4m to £29m last year, according to its latest financial report.
MRS, which was the subject of a management buyout last year. made £1.7m profit before taxation, up from £977,000 last year, although managing director Robert Hardie points out that this year's figure was boosted by £400,000 from the sale of the firm's depot in Ashby-de-la-Zouche, Leicestershire. MRS, which has 400 staff and runs more than 200 vehicles, has 13 depots throughout the UK with its headquarters at Bathgate, West Lothian.
Hardie, who organised the management buyout, has been with the company for 17 years; it was founded in 1975.
He says he is optimistic about MRS's long-term prospects for expansion, although in the short term he intends to consolidate the firm's present position. He adds that it faces the same challenges as the rest of the haulage industry, including high fuel costs and the "inflexibility" of the Working Time Directive.
The directors' report notes: "Transport has suffered a protracted period of volatile fuel pricing which in turn affects the costs of almost every part of our supply chain,from parts and tyres through to service and energy sources."