A focus by Howard Tenens on delivering high levels of customer service has led to an investment in additional vehicles and staff after the family firm’s clients rewarded it with more work.
Operator licence records showed that the contract logistics and distribution firm had recently boosted its authorisation by another 20 HGVs and chief executive Jamie Hartles said it all came down to providing an “exemplary service” in uncertain times.
“This typically means rightsizing our solutions, through continuous improvement initiatives and other cost saving activities,” he told Motor Transport.
“Our customers appreciate this proactive partnership approach to business and have awarded us with longer contracts or additional delivery volumes and flows.”
In September 2024, its contract with plumbing and heating merchant Williams & Co was extended by another year after the firm said its collaboration with Howard Tenens had helped it grow considerably year on year.
Williams & Co said the haulier was providing through-the-night logistics and it had been able to grow the number of routes and branches requiring this service on a closed loop system.
It said this system allowed it to be fluid with its stock between locations, helping to ensure it had the right product in the right place.
“This could not have happened without the advanced planning and traffic systems and the flexibility of Howard Tenens’ fleet capabilities,” Williams & Co said.
“This flexibility, the levels of customer service, and business support in a partner is a key reason why we have further extended our relationship with Howard Tenens for a further year.”
Hartles added: “Over the last 12 months we have also opened a new 185,000sq ft in Magna Park, Lutterworth, moved into fresh and frozen solutions and established a national delivery network for uncrated motorbikes for a large original equipment manufacturer.
“This has all resulted in a need to invest in additional vehicles, people and equipment to facilitate this growth.”
The Magna Park site relates to a new seven-year agreement with De’Longhi, during which it will oversee and optimise the warehouse, distribution and service centre operations at its Lutterworth NDC.
At the beginning of this year, Howard Tenens said it was on track to reduce fleet emissions by almost half by the end of the decade, thanks to it embracing a range of clean technologies.
In 2024, Hartles received the Chairman’s Award from the UK Warehousing Association for outstanding achievements in logistics.
