Logistics operator Cert Octavian has achieved a £2 million turnaround in the past year, producing a £490,000 profit before an exceptional item.
Releasing unaudited year end figures for 2009/10, the company said that the improvement had come despite the fact that revenue fell to £39m as a result of the recession.
[asset_ref id=”967″] Anthony Finlayson-Green
Managing director Anthony Finlayson-Green said the result was a “tribute to the strategy the company has been following over the past three years in rationalising our business and our capacity, and the commitment from my whole team, including the board”.
Cert Octavian is best known for its wine logistics operation but it also targets premium products particularly in the beauty and fragrance sector.
Last year, said the company, the brands business returned a profit of £257,000.
Finlayson-Green said: “We are enjoying a very healthy sales pipeline and are in discussion with numerous customers across drinks, health and beauty and FMCG and retail businesses.”
It won new contracts worth some £4m. New customers included: Brown Brothers Wines Europe, Australian Vintage, Cellar Trends POS, Nirvana Spa, Gonzalez Byass POS, Westmill Foods, Marks & Spencer.
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In addition, it retained, or extended contracts with Treasury Wine Estates EMEA (formerly Foster’s EMEA), Red Bull, Corney & Barrow and Möet Hennessy UK.
The promotional packing business completed 24 million packs in the last financial year, with an expected 15 per cent growth in this financial year.
