LISBURN-based refrigerated transport company McCulla Ireland has increased its turnover by eight per cent in the past year to just shy of £26 million.
Gross margin remained stable at 44 per cent while the company's profits before tax increased by 22 per cent to more than £1.6 million.
McCulla has also grown its staff numbers in the year ending December 31 from 210 to 234, most of the additional workers being in distribution, and as a result its wages bill lifted from £6.6m to £7.1m.
Operating from two facilities within Ireland (Lisburn and Dublin), the second-generation family company was established in 1969 and this year celebrates 50 years in business.
McCulla has diversified significantly from the original core business of standard refrigerated haulage into a fully integrated cold supply chain, including cold storage and bespoke logistics solutions for customers of all sizes.
Services include product collection, storage, picking-to-order and delivery by the box, pallet, or full load to anywhere in the UK, Ireland and the rest of Europe.
The firm said it is "satisfied" with the performance over the year and the directors believe the infrastructure is now in place for a period of "sustained organic growth".
"Following the growth in recent trading periods the company has continued to make significant investments in fixed assets during the year and this will enable the company to focus on its growth strategy," they said.
"Our strategy is based on providing customers with a range of cost-effective and quality assured solutions for delivering and storing products. This strategy is being applied in growing markets throughout Ireland, the UK and Europe to enable the company to grow revenue in future years."
The company, which operates a fleet of more than100 trucks and has a diverse customer base in a variety of sectors from food service to supermarket work to specialist pharmaceuticals transportation, is chaired by Ashley McCulla.
He was named family director of the year at the NI Institute of Directors Awards last year and is the chairman of the board of the Road Haulage Association.
He is also among a number of Northern Ireland contenders in this year's EY Entrepreneur of the Year competition.
