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LATEST NEWS

Welcome to the Culina blog. Here you’ll find the latest news and articles from the UK’s leading food and drink logistics provider.

Exploring Opportunities within Culina Group: Graduate and Undergraduate Programmes Are you considering your next steps within education? Are you looking to advance your academic journey? Culina Group have two brand new and exciting programmes that could be perfect for you! Our Graduate Programmes and Undergraduate Degree Apprenticeship Programme offer unique opportunities for professional and personal growth; paving the way for future career success. Whether you are finishing High School, changing careers altogether or searching for further development after your Degree, here’s a comprehensive guide to navigating these paths within Culina Group… Undergraduate Degree Apprenticeship Programme: Building Solid Foundations An Undergraduate…

May 07, 2024  By bubble

Culina Group once again secured the 'Refrigerated Transport Operator of the Year' title for a third consecutive year at the 10th Anniversary TCS&D Awards 2023, held recently at The Midland Hotel in Manchester. The Temperature Controlled Storage & Distribution (TCS&D) Awards brought together key players in the industry and celebrated a decade of recognising outstanding achievements in temperature-controlled logistics. This Award is not only a recognition of past accomplishments but also a challenge for Culina Group to maintain exceptional standards and continue pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the refrigerated transport sector. Winning the 'Refrigerated Transport Operator of…

Sep 25, 2023  By Paul Willocks

Eventor is proud to be supporting the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team in their ground-breaking mission to reduce emissions through the use of biofuel. As the team's trusted race build and logistics support partner, Eventor is proud to support this ambitious initiative, driving sustainability in the world of Formula One. The Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team, in collaboration with its logistics partners, is taking bold action to achieve a fully biofueled European season, following a successful trial in 2022 that demonstrated an impressive 89% reduction in CO2 freight emissions. Eventor is playing a crucial role in supporting this innovative project, leveraging its…

Jun 15, 2023  By Paul Willocks

Congratulations to all Culina Group drivers who were shortlisted at the Microlise Annual Driver of the Year Awards that took place at the Coventry Building Society Arena recently. Special congratulations go to two of our Stobart drivers who successfully claimed Awards. Stobart Driver, Simon Poll from Leicestershire, won the Award for Driver Hero of the Year, following a fatal road traffic collision, where Simon displayed not only quick thinking but exceptional bravery, which lead to him receiving a commendation from Leicestershire Police. Stobart Driver, Ian Simpson from Cumbria, won the Short Distance Award, based on his driving performance recorded through…

May 24, 2023  By Paul Willocks

Who are Culina Group? Culina Group are a logistics company, founded in 1994. There are several companies within Culina Group, including Culina Logistics, Fowler Welch, Great Bear, Warrens, CML and IPS. Culina Group has also been working in partnership with Müller Milk & Ingredients (MMI) since 2019. Müller Milk & Ingredients Distribution (MMID) manages the distribution operation for MMI by using the expertise of Culina Group. The group companies cover four sectors, chilled and ambient distribution, co-pack, and resourcing. Culina Group has also recently acquired Stobarts and International Road Ferry. Read more

Feb 06, 2023  By Tom Chant

Culina Group, the market-leading provider of shared-user FMCG logistics services, has announced an agreement to take over International Road Ferry (IRF) as from Tuesday 3rd January 2023. The terms of the agreement, including consideration, have not been disclosed. International Road Ferry is a major player in the transport market with offices in Rotterdam, Grubbenvorst (Venlo), Felixstowe and Thetford and specialises in unaccompanied transport between Great Britain, the Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland both full loads and part loads. The business has over 25 years of experience in the unaccompanied transport to and from these markets and their knowledge, local offices and…

Jan 05, 2023  By Paul Willocks

Stobart Special Operations are running a Recruitment Open Day for Drivers on Saturday, 14th Jan, at The Halliwell Jones Stadium in Warrington from 09:00 - 15:00. What you need to know for on the day: Location: Warrington Wolves. The Halliwell Jones Stadium, Mike Gregory Way, Warrington, WA2 7NE Parking: Tesco Warrington, Winwick Road, Warrington, WA2 7NE. Sign in at the stadium with your vehicle registration; this will allow you to park at Tesco free of charge Onsite: Special Operations, Culina & Stobart Trucks & Trailers, Formula one cars, free food & drink as well as restroom facilities will be available…

Jan 01, 2023  By Paul Willocks

“Sustainability” is now much more than a buzz word; it’s a crucial focus for leading organisations across the UK and indeed across the world. There is a building momentum globally to reset business models to truly value the health of the planet that we are all lucky to enjoy. Culina Group is at the forefront of this reset.  One of the latest initiatives now underway across the Culina Group to help boost sustainability is a major systemised fleet refurbishment programme. The objective is to optimise utilisation of all existing fleet to its maximum potential. Overall the Culina Group fleet is…

Jun 27, 2022  By Marijke

Pushing the glass ceiling, blue sky thinking, Helicopter perspectives, Ideation, Innovation, Initiative, TechHub is here! Creating and defining cutting edge Logistics innovations to establish Culina Group as the UK’s most technologically advanced 3PL. This summer Culina Group is introducing what it believes is a radically new concept in UK 3PL – TechHub. Techub – is to be a completely new department within the Culina Group organisation and will be based at Culina House the Groups head office in Warrington in the North West of England. The role of TechHub is to be unique within Culina Group and almost certainly within…

Jun 13, 2022  By Marijke

When a child acquires a brain injury it can have a devastating impact on all the family.  Every year thousands of families are left without any support and often feel alone and with nowhere to turn to. The Child Brain Injury Trust, www.childbraininjurytrust.org.uk, offers support to families and professionals working with children and young people who find themselves in need of information about what’s happened and how to cope.  They are there to listen and help with practical and emotional issues which may arise over time. This Charity is particularly important to Fowler Welch as their support has been invaluable…

May 02, 2022  By Marijke

North Derbyshire charity, Fairplay, is the chosen charity of Great Bear Markham Vale 2. Over recent months our Great Bear colleagues at this site have been holding charity bingo sessions to raise important funds for this established and valuable local charity. In March Great Bear colleagues, Matt Dams and Olivia Smedley visited Fairplay at Chesterfield where they were able to meet many people who benefit from their important services and had a first-hand  opportunity to see the great work the charity does for North Derbyshire. During the visit Matt and Olivia presented a cheque on behalf of their Great Bear…

Apr 20, 2022  By Marijke

Stobart pledges further commitment to sustainability becoming the first Major UK Logistics Provider to set science-based targets to reduce carbon emissions. Stobart has marked another milestone in its sustainability journey with an official commitment to the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi), a global project that aims to provide business leaders with the accountability framework they need to reduce their carbon footprint. SBTi is a collaboration between CDP (formerly the Carbon Disclosure Project), the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC), World Resources Institute (WRI), and the World-Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). The initiative defines, promotes and showcases best practice on setting science-based targets…

Apr 04, 2022  By Marijke

Culina Group is celebrating after landing an internationally-recognised award for demonstrating high health and safety standards during the period of January 01, 2021, to December 31, 2021.   The RoSPA Awards scheme is the longest-running of its kind in the UK, and receives entries from organisations across the globe, making it one of the most sought-after achievement awards for health and safety worldwide. Competitive awards go to the best entries in 31 industry sectors including construction, healthcare, transport and logistics, engineering, manufacturing and education.   Culina Group has received a RoSPA Silver Health and Safety Award for working hard to…

Mar 31, 2022  By Marijke

Stobart has recently won the “Co-op Environmental & Sustainability Warriors Award - 2021” awarded to “the Co-op supplier who has inspired change and delivered a project that has positively impacted the planet and promoted best practice”. Throughout 2021 Stobart has actively partnered with Co-op to agree a measured ongoing Sustainability Road Map including a pipeline of key initiatives to be rolled out incrementally. The overall aim is for joint Stobart/Co-op operations to become more and more sustainable, through forensic governance and improved carbon efficiency management. Three specific initiatives were implemented in 2021; a Carbon reporting process for inbound RDC deliveries…

Feb 21, 2022  By Marijke

Culina Group company Stobart Europe is hitting the New Year running with the establishment of an important new division – Stobart Multimodal. Stobart Multimodal will offer a wide range of integrated specialist services including ambient and temperature controlled logistics solutions, road and rail transport to continental port of exit, export customs formalities, shipment to the UK, import customs clearances, and deliveries in to Culina Group locations. Following the acquisition of Stobart Europe in the summer of 2021 Culina Group had a vision to establish a fully integrated supply chain and over the last six months have been working hard to…

Feb 08, 2022  By Marijke

Who are Culina Group? We are a market leading logistics company, founded in 1994. There are several businesses that form Culina Group including Culina, Stobart, Stobart Europe, Fowler Welch, Great Bear, Warrens, CML, IPS, The Pallet Network, iForce, Logistics People and MMiD. These Group businesses cover four key service sectors, chilled and ambient warehousing and distribution, co-pack and resourcing. Where are we located? We have a nationwide network of depots across the UK and Ireland offering chilled, ambient and co-packing services, as well as warehousing space. To find your nearest depot please visit https://www.culina.co.uk/about-us/nationwide-network/ What are the entry criteria for…

Feb 07, 2022  By Marijke

When you join Culina Group you are given more than a job; you are given an exciting chance to become the best version of yourself. You are given a fantastic opportunity to progress within our ever expanding organisation. We care massively about Culina Group colleagues’ growth and wellbeing. We seek to continually deliver the best training support and solutions possible right across the UK. For dynamic Culina Group colleagues and ambitious prospective members of our growing UK team we offer a huge and continually expanding range of ad hoc, short and long term training and development support solutions across all…

Feb 02, 2022  By Marijke

We are delighted to announce that Culina Group have received a Gold accreditation from Investors in People. Gold accreditation means that we have the policies in place but more than that, it means everyone – from CEO to apprentice takes ownership for making them come to life. Only 17% of accredited organisations achieve Gold which makes this achievement even more special. Group CEO Thomas van Mourik has always said that ‘Culina Group is nothing without the fantastic people that work here’. This is true, it's the hard work and dedication of our people across the network that make the business…

Dec 16, 2021  By Tom Chant

The Charity Hope House. On March 4th 1991 the charity that was to become Hope House Children’s Hospice was formed. An incredible fundraising campaign was launched to raise the £1.5 million needed to build a hospice at Morda, near Oswestry. It seemed like the whole of the area was holding coffee mornings, bring and buy sales and sponsored events for Hope House.  Building started in 1993 and when Hope House opened its doors in October 1995 it was only the tenth children’s hospice in the world. In its first full year after opening the charity supported 80 families. In 2018…

Oct 15, 2021  By Tom Chant

24 hours | 3 Countries | 462 miles driven | 23 miles walked | 3064 metres ascended The date:  June 18th 2021 @ 21:00 The event: Red Hot Chilli Steppers’ 3 Peaks Challenge The charity:  Alder Hey Children’s Hospital The clock was ticking… The team had 24 hours and a huge mountain – or 3 – to climb! They had just spent a gruelling 7 hours 40 minutes travelling to the first spot – Ben Nevis, fortunately this time wasn’t included in the 24 hour challenge – unfortunately this meant the team had already been awake for this time. Travelling…

Aug 19, 2021  By Tom Chant

Culina Group, the market-leading provider of shared-user FMCG logistics services, has announced an agreement to take over GreenWhiteStar Acquisitions as from Thursday 1st July 2021. The terms of the agreement, including consideration, have not been disclosed. GreenWhiteStar Acquisitions comprises of Eddie Stobart, Eddie Stobart Europe, iForce, The Pallet Network, and The Logistics People. With an overall turnover of more than £2.2 Billion, a combined workforce of around 22,000 staff, approaching 20 million square feet of warehousing and a joint fleet of more than 5,500 vehicles, Culina Group has significantly strengthened its market leading position in the FMCG Logistics Sector with…

Jul 01, 2021  By Tom Chant

In March, the teams at Great Bear Chorley made a real splash with their fundraising efforts, by organising a charity carwash (in the freezing cold) and a raffle, with prizes donated by some of the customers onsite. After donning their customised red nose day face masks (courtesy of the fantastic efforts of colleague Sylwia Morys), car washers; Danny Hughes, James Palmer, Rick Morris, Kylie Sanders, Graham Cann and Dave Seddon headed to the car park in search of dirty cars – a must for any charity car wash! The team were assisted on the day by Inga Baneliene who acted…

May 08, 2021  By Tom Chant

Fowler Welch Charity Roundup of 2020, Parkinson’s UK When Charity gets Personal Fundraising during a global pandemic presents more than a few challenges, but this wasn’t enough to put off a very determined Pat Newton from raising funds for a charity which really is close to her heart.  Pat, who was diagnosed with the idiopathic strain of Parkinson’s in 2016, set about organising a calendar of fundraising events.  Sadly, as most of these were large-scale national events, they were cancelled, and Pat had to go back to the drawing board to rethink her plans.Read more

Jan 31, 2021  By Tom Chant

As one of the smallest depots within the Culina Group family, the efforts of the team at Great Bear Melksam are anything but small. With just 42 colleagues keeping the cogs of the 24/7 operation turning, that’s 42 big hearts going all-out with their charity endeavours.Read more

Dec 15, 2020  By Tom Chant

2020 has been a year like no other with COVID-19 disrupting lives and businesses across the globe. Never has charity fundraising been so important – or so difficult. Great Bear Kettering had to think outside of the box in order to generate much needed funds for their 2 chosen charities of the year – The Trussell Trust and Cransley Hospice Trust. The Trussell Trust aims to end hunger and poverty in the UK. By supporting a nationwide network of foodbanks, the charity provides not only emergency food but much needed support services to people locked in poverty whilst campaigning for…

Nov 03, 2020  By Tom Chant

In early March, Culina Group employee Andy Brown was one of a few people in the UK to be diagnosed with COVID-19. Following being admitted to hospital, Andy has now fully recovered, he was asked to originally donate blood for research and vaccine development but has subsequently been asked to donate convalescent plasma for research into antibodies in the hope it can eventually be used to treat new patients with COVID-19.  “A Doctor from The NHS Blood and Transplant Service (NHSBT) contacted me as a survivor. The Doctor explained that people like me who have fully recovered from COVID-19 potentially…

Apr 28, 2020  By Paul Willocks

It goes without saying, equality in the workplace is now more important than ever. The gap between men and women is closing in many aspects, which is very positive. International Women’s Day taking place on 8th March 2020 is a global celebration of the achievements of women. It marks a call to action for accelerating women’s equality. Its mission is to - 'Champion women of all backgrounds who dare to innovate, lead, and uplift others towards a more equal and inclusive workplace.' Logistics is one such area where equality is improving significantly, particularly within Culina Group where equality is actively embraced.…

Mar 06, 2020  By Tom Chant

Culina Logistics has had a fantastic relationship with FareShare over the past 2 years. Together with the help of our amazingly generous clientele we have been able to donate enough surplus food to provide more than 3 million meals to over 1,800 charities across the UK. Lindsay Boswell, CEO of FareShare, said: “By working in partnership with their customers and partners Culina Logistics have reached the staggering milestone of diverting enough amazing food for 3 million meals. Culina use the phrase 'sharing is caring' and this is the best possible example of a business delivering a massive social difference.” To…

Feb 14, 2020  By Tom Chant

Many empires have been built by families throughout history such as the Rockefellers’s, Walton’s and the Muller’s of the world. There is no bond stronger than family and when all working in harmony there are no limits to what they can achieve. The act of passing knowledge down to your children and having the new generation build on the original foundations are the literal building blocks of the beginning of your empire. At Culina Group we like to think of our employees as one big family. We work together on a daily basis, all pulling in the same direction towards…

Jan 03, 2020  By Tom Chant

Shopping for clothing can be tough! To find a stylish, high quality and truly unique item that fits you perfectly can be difficult. Usually you will tick two out of these three boxes, but most of the time a compromise is required in one area or another. Compromise is a problem when shopping ‘off the rack’, along with the fact that items are often mass-produced to appeal to a wide range of people. The reality is everyone is different, and everyone wants to feel special!     The Perfect Fit I don’t know about you, but I feel great when…

Nov 07, 2019  By Tom Chant

Getting an innovative product to market is no small task especially in a well-established sector. This is exactly the challenge ‘Waken’ set themselves. The mouthwash producers have launched a range of 4 fresh and exciting flavours, PepperMint, SpearMint, LemonMint and AniseedMint. The beautifully designed 500ml aluminium bottles aren’t just aesthetically pleasing, they are also endlessly recyclable. The bottles, that clearly stand out from their competitors, bring a breath of fresh air to the shelves at Boots and Sainsbury’s. Their line doesn’t stop there, to accompany the new mouthwashes, customers are able to purchase a stainless steel cup (exclusive to Boots…

Oct 30, 2019  By Tom Chant

In its 25th anniversary year Culina Group’s spectacular growth trajectory has been recognised with the achievement of five high profile national awards presented by leading UK Industry organisations and associations, Motor Transport, the Road Haulage Association, the UK Warehouse Association, and TCS&D. In July at the Motor Transport Awards 2019, the “Oscars” for the UK transport and logistics industry, Culina Group was recognised with the prestigious award that is universally accepted to be the pinnacle of UK Logistics – “Motor Transport – “Haulier of the Year” - 2019”. Culina Group CEO Thomas van Mourik, and Company Secretary Nigel Jury were…

Jul 24, 2019  By bubble

Culina Group won a major UK Operator Accolade recently, at the UKWA Awards. Michael Pepper, Development Manager at Culina Group was presented with the award for 'Logistics Service Provider of the Year' at the prestigious event which took place at the Dorchester Hotel in London on 27th June 2019 following the UKWA's 75th Anniversary Lunch.   “We are very proud to have been awarded this accolade” said Thomas van Mourik, Culina Group CEO “It is real testimony to the dedication of our staff across the business and to pick up this award during our 25th Anniversary Year is fantastic!”

Jul 01, 2019  By bubble

When he stepped into the ring at the end of 2018 Tyson Fury was as much a symbol of mental health resurrection as he was as a British boxing icon. His unexpected draw against Deontay Wilder was a real testimony to his own personal victory against his mental health demons. “I ain’t a special human being,” Fury said afterwards, “I’m just a normal man. But with the right help and the right guidance, anyone can turn their life around.” It was a special performance though, as Fury confirmed that his triumph over his mental health demons far outweighed his comeback…

Jan 28, 2019  By bubble

If I were to say the word ‘Co-Packing’ to you, you would be forgiven for thinking I was talking about the joint effort to get the suitcases ready for the annual family holiday. When in actual fact I would be talking about the 3rd party logistics process in which a co-packing company receives a product from a manufacturer (sometimes in its raw state) and then package it, or re-work the packaging. An oversimplification of Co-Packing would be ‘the operation of packing goods for redistribution’. But that’s merely scratching the surface. Co-Packing is the process that allows companies to sell their…

Dec 21, 2018  By bubble

IPS, the UK’s market leading co-packing business has announced an agreement to take over FoodPack Limited as from Monday 3rd December 2018. The terms of the agreement, including consideration, have not been disclosed. IPS is already the market leader in co-packing and by acquiring FoodPack its expanded business is significantly extending the company’s overall service offering. FoodPack operates from an 80,000 sq. ft. facility and 9 acre site in St Helens Lancashire and employs over 150 staff. Turnover in 2018 is over £14 million. “We are serious about building the best and largest co-packing / co-manufacturing business in the UK,”…

Dec 03, 2018  By bubble

Logistics is an area where equality is improving rapidly, especially in the crucial role of HGV Driver. As an industry that is in the midst of a nationwide driver shortage there has been no better time for more women to take the wheel and choose a career on the open road. The attributes of HGV Drivers are varied and the role itself more demanding than 10 years ago. A Sense of Responsibility – Alertness - An Ability to Work Independently - An Impeccable Driving Record - Customer Service Skills - Knowledge of Truck Mechanics - Maintenance Skills - Physical Stamina…

Nov 21, 2018  By bubble

Culina Logistics won a major UK Operator Accolade recently, at the TCS&D Awards - the “Oscars” for the Chilled Logistics Sector. Steve Winwood, Culina Logistics CEO was presented with the award for Temperature Controlled Storage Operator of the Year by FSDF Chief Executive – Chris Sturman. “This is a proud day for Culina Logistics,” said Steve, “It is real testimony to the commitment and hard work of our staff at all levels to excel in everything that they do to provide on-going service excellence for all our clients.” Against strong nominations from leading competitors in the chilled logistics sector, Culina…

Oct 15, 2018  By bubble

Culina Group has announced the acquisition of Robsons (of Spalding) as from Monday 2nd July 2018. The terms of the agreement have not been disclosed. The acquisition is a logical next step for both businesses and it made strong commercial sense for Culina Group to bring Robsons (of Spalding) into the family. This acquisition is another significant and exciting milestone in the development of the Culina Group of Companies.

Jul 02, 2018  By bubble

The logistics industry is facing a driver shortage of between 45,000 – 50,000 workers and if something isn’t done the deficit will only increase. Currently, 2% of employed drivers are under 25 and with the average age of a HGV driver in Britain being 55 there just aren’t enough qualified people filling the holes left by those retiring. Also, only 1% of HGV drivers are female! Which in my opinion is a number that needs industry-wide encouragement to increase. But what is the solution to these issues? The perception of the average HGV driver’s life on the road has changed…

Jun 25, 2018  By bubble

Culina Group won national recognition recently in the Microlise Driver of the Year Awards at the Ricoh Arena Coventry. The Microlise Awards each year recognise the UK’s most talented HGV drivers, acknowledge the vital work they do, and the professionalism with which they carry out their work. “The Award for Driver Excellence was awarded to Culina Group for consistently having more drivers in the top 1,000 of the total Microlise measured population of over 180,000 than any other company,” Said Thomas Van Mourik – Culina Group CEO. “We have now done this for the last three years! This is against…

May 29, 2018  By bubble

I think that it is fair to say that we all want to better ourselves in one way or another and what better way to do this than through education. Whether it be reading a book, learning a new skill or taking a course, education makes us better people. Knowledge is power after all! We at Culina Group have teamed up with B-Skill and developed the RISE Programme, a bespoke series of courses available to all Culina Group staff members. RISE, which stands for Recognise, Inspire, Support and Empower, could not be named more appropriately for what we want to…

May 16, 2018  By bubble

Culina Group, the UK market-leading provider of shared-user logistics services for food and drink companies, has announced an agreement to enter in to a joint venture with Warrens Group, the UK market leader in baked goods logistics, effective 1st March 2018. The terms of the agreement have not been disclosed. Culina Group is actively expanding its ambient logistics business. This joint venture with Warrens Group, and its dominance in the bread, cake and patisserie services marketplace, means Culina Group has significantly strengthened its market position in the UK. Furthermore Culina Group will continue developing the excellent relationships with Tesco and…

May 05, 2018  By bubble

The humble honey bee is a pillar of the environment and is responsible for the pollination of over 400 different types of agricultural plant 70 of which being crops. Among these include fruit trees/plants, vegetables, flowers, alfalfa (which is used to feed cattle and other livestock) and even cotton which equates to 35% of the Worlds fibre usage. With one third of food being dependant on pollination I think you will agree that that bees are extremely important. Humans have relied on bees to help cultivate their crops for thousands of years. The ancient Egyptians would transport their hives up…

Apr 26, 2018  By bubble

Culina Group is backing a formal petition launched by The Grocer (magazine) that asks ministers to reconsider subsidising food waste distribution to get more surplus food to charity. Currently, it can cost up to £150 per tonne to separate, store and transport edible surplus food to charity. If this cost were reimbursed far more of the 270,000 tonnes of edible surplus in the system would go to people who need it. For only £10-15m per year, 100,000 tonnes of food could be donated. This funding could save UK charities millions. If only 100,000 tonnes of surplus was redistributed it could…

Apr 24, 2018  By bubble

Being a professional driver is a taxing job. You have to face many obstacles throughout your day, both physical and mental. There’s traffic, deadlines, delays, stress. The last thing you have time to think about is exercise and eating healthy. We’ve all been there, you’re running late and forgot to make your lunch the night before. You grab a bag of crisps, some chocolate, a couple of cans of energy drink and you are out of the door to face the day ahead. You get to the yard, do all of your pre-checks, find your route and you’re ready to…

Apr 05, 2018  By bubble

There are thousands of service stations, layby caterers, diners and truck stop’s all over the UK ready to welcome the weary traveller. Whether it be a hot meal, a well-earned rest or just a quick comfort break they all have something to offer. Have you ever asked yourself, ‘I’m sure I have been to this services before?’ I know I have. That’s because there are many that are simply carbon copies of the one 50 miles down the road that are part of the same chain, with the same shops and the same layout. Of course, the majority of the…

Mar 15, 2018  By bubble

There is no better feeling than being on the open road when the sun is shining, with no traffic and you have your favourite songs on the stereo. Even when the weather is miserable and all you can see is tail lights up ahead, it can still be a good journey. As long as you have your music, everything will be alright. With music being such an important part of any road trip we at Culina Group asked our drivers what their favourite songs are to drive to, and they did not disappoint with their responses. Using their suggestions we…

Feb 22, 2018  By bubble

The noble family dog is more than just a pet that you share your home with. They are a valued member of the family. You feed, care for and play with and in return, they give you loyalty, love, and admiration. The family car, however, is not seen by many in the same light as the family pet. The car is the workhorse of the home, journeying from A to B and beyond. However, it shares many similarities with ‘Fido’. For example, if you ‘feed’ it with the right fuel, clean and care for it with regular trips to the…

Jan 31, 2018  By bubble

Mutual Symbiosis is when two organisms from different species co-exist in a relationship that benefits each individual through the activity of the other. For example, in Africa, the Oxpecker Bird removes bloodsucking ticks from the hide of a Hippopotamus. Under the ocean, a Clown Fish will keep an Anemone clean from debris in exchange for protection. While on the banks of the Nile the Plover Bird will stand inside the open mouth of a crocodile in order to clean the reptile’s teeth. Better them than me! All of these relationships have been built by each species gaining the trust of…

Jan 11, 2018  By bubble

In today’s world of ever increasing waste change is drastically needed, especially in the food industry. In data collected over the past five years, the UK wastes approximately 1,360,000 tonnes of food from the manufacturing, retail and wholesale sectors alone. If you factor in the hospitality industry, home waste and general litter this adds up to a staggering 10 million tonnes, 60% of which could have been saved. Our nation is ranked 23rd on the richest countries list but in the UK there are 8.4 million people who struggle to afford to eat every single day. Now I don’t know…

Nov 30, 2017  By bubble

Long gone are the days of the horse and cart making daily trips to the local convenience store, or the baker’s son making home deliveries at the crack of dawn down the cobbled streets on his bike. As fond as those memories are for some the future of 3PL is changing, and it’s changing fast! Delivery Drones You may have heard about the Amazon drone delivery initiative which will see small packages delivered autonomously to customers by air to a pre-determined location within a matter of minutes. Unfortunately, due to current aviation laws, this particular idea has been ’grounded’ in…

Nov 09, 2017  By bubble

The world of dating can be a minefield. Trying to find ‘the one’ in a sea of ‘ones’. But the moment a potential partner catches your eye, the ‘game’s’ afoot. Are they going to come over here? Should I go over there? How’s my hair? Try not to trip on the way. The butterflies are building the closer you get to the first interaction. I hope I don’t have something in my teeth, god they’re attractive, what if they tell me to go away!?….then, “Hi, my name’s….” And you’re away, no safety nets, no ‘do-overs’, just you and them. From…

Oct 19, 2017  By bubble

The Oxford English Dictionary defines the word ‘logistics’ as, “The detailed organization and implementation of a complex operation.” Now I think you can agree that the ‘organisation’ of any ‘complex operation’ has its fair share of challenges but then to have to implement it that’s another story. Imagine it is your child’s 5th birthday and this year they have asked for farm themed party. Them, being your little pride and joy you don’t want to disappoint, so you rent a farmers costume, make a scarecrow, hire a petting zoo including pigs, goats, lambs, chickens and even a cow. The house…

Sep 28, 2017  By bubble

The Academy Awards, known internationally as ‘The Oscars’, is a set of twenty-four gold plated statuettes, awarded for ‘artistic and technical merit’ on behalf of the American film industry. They have become without doubt the world’s most established and well known awards ceremony being watched by millions of people every year. With the red carpet packed with ‘A-List’ celebrities posing for photographs, mingling with fellow nominees and discussing ‘who they’re wearing’ with the worlds press, it’s an extremely exciting evening. With the accolades spanning from ‘Best Sound Mixing’ to ‘Best Actor / Actress’ the 34cm tall statues are revered and…

Sep 07, 2017  By bubble

The team at Culina Logistics Milton Keynes have been awarded the FTAvision Compliance Award for the third year running. The FTAvision Compliance Award is presented to the Culina site that has, over a complete calendar year, kept their EU driver’s hours and working time rule infringements to a minimum when matched against other Culina sites. To win this award three years running shows the fantastic attitude the Milton Keynes team have towards compliance. The drivers understand what is expected from them and are committed to keeping infringements as low as possible. “It’s great to see the Transport Team at Milton…

May 26, 2017  By bubble

Culina Group Driver Michael Young from Great Bear Hoddesdon has won the 'Short Distance Driver of the Year' award at the 2017 Microlise Driver of the Year Awards. Michael was chosen from 120,000 drivers who were entered in the competition over nine categories. What makes this an impressive achievement is that 80% of Michaels journeys are in central London! The short distance categories are based on data collected by Microlise telematics units. Now in their third year, these telematics-based awards are defined by analysing anonymous data assessed against a range of criteria using a process defined by the University of…

May 19, 2017  By bubble

For the rapidly expanding Culina Group, 2016 was all about Great Bear. This year it is the turn of Culina Logistics, as the company’s long established Chilled logistics division announces its growth plans. New long term contracts, secured between two and five years, totalling over £130 million and a commitment to a massive £38 million investment in new Chilled logistics infrastructure are a defining statement of intent by the Chilled Food and Drink logistics market leader. “Now that our colleagues at Great Bear Distribution are fully responsible for the management and growth of their specialist arena – Ambient, we at…

Mar 30, 2017  By bubble

Culina Group company IPS won big at the recent 2017 Nestle Supplier Awards taking the “Best Service Award”. The Best Service Award celebrates the supplier who has either delivered a consistently high level of service or who have shown proactivity to overcome significant obstacles. "We are absolutely delighted to receive the Best Service Award this year. This is truely a reflection of the continued open, inclusive and receptive relationship between IPS and our Nestle colleagues. The capability, loyalty and commitment of our people is what makes IPS the market leader" said Andrew Dawson - IPS Managing Director. The prestigious Nestle…

Mar 17, 2017  By bubble

Culina Group, General Mills UK and Peel Ports have been recognised as the 'Team of the Year' at the recent Logistics & Supply Chain Excellence Awards, following the opening of the Port Salford warehouse and distribution facility near Manchester earlier this year. The event held on Monday 14th November at the London Hilton on Park Lane was attended by some of the biggest names in the UK logistics and transport sector. Since opening in April 2016, the Port Salford site has acted as a central hub for General Mills’ ambient brands arriving by short sea freight from Europe. The company…

Nov 28, 2016  By bubble

Culina Group and General Mills UK & Ireland have scooped the Warehouse Operations Award at the CILT (Chartered Institute for Logistics and Transport) Annual Awards for Excellence. The event on Thursday 27 October was held at London’s Lancaster Hotel and featured some of the biggest names in the UK logistics and transport sector. Operating from Port Salford, a multimodal warehouse distribution centre to the west of Manchester accessible by road, canal and rail, General Mills currently routes 80% of its volume by canal. The company is responsible for a range of market-leading brands including Old El Paso, Green Giant, Betty…

Nov 01, 2016  By bubble

A team of cyclists from Culina Group including Mike Roberts, Tony Kay, Paul Giddings, Carl Tolley, Daniel Muller, Paul Jacobs, Wojceich Jastrzebski and Paul Barnes recently took part in a charity cycle ride in support of MacMillan Cancer Support. The event started at Hoddesdon on Sunday 4th September where the team received a very warm welcome and a fine send off from the staff. The cyclists set off from Hoddesdon at midday arriving at Haverhill later in the day. On day two the team left Haverhill and cycled a tough 80 miles to Desborough arriving at the hotel in total…

Sep 22, 2016  By bubble

On Tuesday 14th September 2016, Culina Group Marketing & Communications Manager Paul Willocks proudly accepted the TCS&D Award for commitment to ‘Environmental and Sustainability’, presented by star of TV game show ‘The Chase’ Paul Sinha in front of hundreds industry professionals. The event, which took place at the British Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham, celebrated excellence in the temperature controlled logistics industry across a number of categories. Culina Group won the Environmental and Sustainability award for their visionary tri-modal concept at Port Salford which went live earlier in 2016 and also for the continuous improvements made to their fleet. “Port Salford…

Sep 22, 2016  By bubble

On Thursday 15th September 2016, the team from Culina Group and General Mills proudly accepted the SHD Logistics Award for New Facility, presented by leading comedian Mark Watson in front of 600 industry professionals. The event, which took place at Resorts World Birmingham, celebrated excellence in the logistics industry across eleven main categories. Culina Group won the new facility award for their visionary collaboration with General Mills at Port Salford, the UK’s first Tri-modal logistics facility. The Port Salford depot went live earlier in 2016. “Port Salford is taking a revolutionary approach to logistics in the UK and it’s our…

Sep 19, 2016  By bubble

The visionary collaboration at Port Salford between Culina Group and General Mills was recognised at the 2016 CILT North West Annual Awards recently. The Awards were attended by leading logistics and transport professionals at a gala event at the Titanic Hotel Liverpool. The “CILT Warehouse Operations Award” was presented to Culina Group for “World class performance in warehouse operations that demonstrate continuous improvement and productivity utilising the most appropriate equipment and software and a fully engaged workforce”. General Mills received the “CILT Environmental Improvement Award” for “Outstanding achievement in the reduction of environmental impact in transport” “This year’s CILT North…

Jul 21, 2016  By bubble

Giorgio Lercara from Culina Hoddesdon won both the Microlise ‘Driver of the Year’’ and also the Microlise ‘Short Distance Driver of the Year’ Award, at the prestigious 2016 Microlise Driver of the Year Awards. The main award was presented to Giorgio personally by Princess Anne - The Princess Royal at the Microlise Transport Conference 2016, held at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry on 18 May in front of over 1,000 transport industry leaders. Giorgio was previously a van driver for Culina’s Corney & Barrow operation out of Hoddesdon. Giorgio has also driven rigid vehicles before progressing to driving articulated vehicles…

May 25, 2016  By bubble

Culina Group companies, IPS and Great Bear, both won big at the recent 2016 Nestle Supplier Awards. IPS won the “Virtuous Circle Award” and new Culina acquisition Great Bear won the “Safety First Award”. IPS, the Featherstone based Culina Packaging Company won the Nestle award for ‘Fuelling the Virtuous Circle’ recognising the greatest contribution and collaboration from a supplier to significantly reducing the total delivered cost of Nestle finished goods. IPS won through its development and implementation a major packaging innovation rolled out specifically on behalf of Nestle in 2015. An innovation which is now enabling annualised cost savings of…

Apr 22, 2016  By bubble

Continuing its rapid growth trajectory, and success story as leading UK transport and logistics innovator, on 4th April 2016, Culina Group opened for business as anchor occupier at Port Salford National Import Centre the UK’s first Tri-modal logistics facility. Great Bear Distribution who joined the Culina Group last month through acquisition will be managing warehousing and distribution of a range of ambient brands from the showpiece 280,000sq ft. facility. Great Bear is now the ambient division of Culina Group. The new Port Salford facility will be fully branded as Great Bear and offers 45,000 pallet spaces, 30 loading doors, 30,000…

Apr 04, 2016  By bubble

Maintaining its position as one of the UK’s most highly regarded transport and logistics operators, food and drink specialists Culina have just announced some startling driver performance statistics. Seventy eight Culina drivers, representing almost 10% of the company’s driver workforce have been recognised for completing a full calendar year without a single Tachograph infringement to their name. “This announcement is a real testimony to our driver professionalism”, commented Pip Bains - Culina Group Fleet Compliance Manager. “At Culina we are very particular about driver recruitment. Despite the major current challenges in this area in the UK, we at Culina are…

Mar 21, 2016  By bubble

Culina Group, the market-leading provider of shared-user FMCG logistics services, has announced an agreement to take over Great Bear Distribution Limited as from Tuesday 1st March 2016. The terms of the agreement, including consideration, have not been disclosed. With an overall turnover of more than £400 Million, a combined workforce of around 5,000 staff, approaching 7.5 million square feet of warehousing and a joint fleet of more than 600 vehicles, the Culina Group has significantly strengthened its market leading position in the Ambient Logistics Sector. “Great Bear and Culina are absolutely complementary businesses, two strong organisations with great reputations, two…

Mar 01, 2016  By bubble

Culina will have its entire fleet of nearly 400 vehicles at Euro 6 standard by March 2016. Furthermore 10% of the Culina fleet will also be LNG fuelled. The current Culina fleet is a mix of the best vehicles on offer from leading marks. “To absolutely minimise our on-going impact on the environment, Culina are looking at fuel economy, vehicle efficiency, and vehicle utilisation from many angles”, said Group Fleet Manager – Mark Matkin. “We have made significant investments in developing an extremely aerodynamic fleet of units and trailers. Our Culina fleet runs on high specification (Goodyear “Fuel Max”) tyres…

Feb 16, 2016  By bubble

Culina Group has been presented with the Freight Transport Association Tachofta Compliance Award in recognition of its high standards of driver compliance and management of infringements. The FTA Award is recognised as prestigious within the industry and highlight members’ efforts to stay compliant with driver hour’s legislation, and ensuring that they keep their drivers safe and legal. Culina has received the Award for three consecutive years. As a leading provider of logistics services for chilled and ambient food and drink companies in the UK, Culina specialises in the development and implementation of total supply chain solutions for major or niche…

Feb 10, 2016  By bubble

Culina has just announced a massive six figure investment in state of the art mobile generator technology to ensure the utmost security of clients’ products at all its chilled goods storage centres across the UK. This move by Culina ensures that clients have the guarantee that their product temperature will be maintained in the event of a power outage. “This is a significant contingency investment by Culina to ensure that we are not compromised whilst client products are in our care”, said David Lowe, Culina Commercial Director. “We want to be completely confident that in the event of a power…

Feb 09, 2016  By bubble

It is refreshing to witness the thought processes that underly the acquisition of new trucks as part of the transport policy at Culina whose head office is based in Market Drayton. Placing driver comfort and working conditions at a high priority level indicates that Culina are a company that recognises the worth of their employees. Couple this with a robust and modern environmental policy and you have a highly respected company which possesses a social conscience, not always the case in business nowadays. Culina work closely with Greenhous DAF in the selection, provision and maintenance of their DAF fleet. This…

Jan 26, 2016  By bubble

AMC have taken the decision to switch and sign with Culina for UK distribution of its full range of juice products. AMC are looking for a stable partner and a long term contract. Culina will be working with MMUK, the UK subsidiary of AMC, handling over 140 different products on their behalf. “AMC are looking to actively expand in the UK. The decision to switch to Culina was integral to our plans. We need a logistics supplier we can rely on completely”, said Mark Graham of MMUK. “Through MMUK we are working with the most demanding retailer networks, clients who…

Dec 20, 2015  By bubble

Culina are very pleased to announce the acquisition of a major contract to handle the UK distribution of the “Peperami” brand on behalf of Jack Link’s the world’s fastest growing meat snack provider. ‘The synergy with the existing Culina customers made Jacks Links a perfect match for our business’ said Chris Hills – Account Manager for Culina. The contract will be stock held within the Culina network, which will support Jack Links from order placement through to final delivery into major retailers and wholesale outlets. The contract will run initially for 2 years with Jack Link’s looking to introduce additional…

Nov 13, 2015  By bubble

We have announced a major jobs boost at Port Salford and are now actively in the recruiting phase for 280 new staff at all levels. Port Salford is the UK's first “three way” logistics centre. Known in the trade as “Tri-modal”, the exciting development at Port Salford will be linking road, rail, and water logistics systems across the UK and Ireland. The massive 271,000 sq. ft. Culina warehouse operation is set to go live in early 2016. “We are looking at the long term with this cutting edge facility, Port Salford is taking a revolutionary approach to logistics in the…

Nov 04, 2015  By bubble

Culina is delighted to be sponsoring the Trade Day Lunch at the International Cheese Awards in Nantwich for the second consecutive year. Thomas Van Mourik, Culina CEO, said: "We are delighted to be supporting this hugely prestigious occasion once more. The International Cheese Awards is widely recognised as the leading event in this food sector, and with Culina's market leading credentials in the area of food and drink logistics, this is a natural partnership to have struck." He added: "Culina will have a number of representatives at the event, including myself, and we are really looking forward to meeting as…

Jul 27, 2015  By bubble

Culina is taking part in the Red Bull Soapbox Race this Sunday at Alexandra Palace in London. The event will be televised on Dave, beginning at 6pm. The food and drink logistics provider's vehicle is based on the classic sitcom, On The Buses, while there will also be a retro theme in evidence from the team members, inspired by The Who. The vehicle is now complete, having been recently wrapped with a striking livery, and you can see it below. Be sure to tune in for what promises to be an entertaining spectacle and please keep your fingers crossed for…

Jul 09, 2015  By bubble

Culina's contract packing business, IPS, has joined forces with Eddie Stobart to fulfil the requirements of Nestle. The move sees IPS carry out a series of services, including flow wrapping, shrink wrapping, cartoning and the creation of display units, complementing other packaging solutions already provided to Nestle by IPS via its York and Featherstone sites. You can read more about this innovative development on The Grocer's website.

Apr 27, 2015  By bubble

Being responsive to a changing market is a tenet which has underpinned the success of the Culina Group as one of the UK's largest food and drink logistics operators. The ability to future-proof our operations has been at the heart of our business development and growth. It is that precept which has driven our decision to take occupation of the first warehouse distribution unit to be built at the new National Import Centre being developed by the Peel Group as part of its multi-million pound Port Salford development. It is the UK’s first tri-modal inland port facility and distribution park,…

Apr 22, 2015  By bubble

Culina will be exhibiting at the London Wine Fair between 18 and 20 May at the Kensington Olympia. The logistics provider, which boasts a fantastic set of wine clients, will be present at the prestigious event at stand J40. Be sure to come along for a chat and to find out more about Culina's integrated bonded supply chain services. Dave Lowe, Culina's Commercial Director, said: "Culina has an impressive list of bonded clients, all of which trust us to deliver the impeccable standards associated with their brands. We are delighted to be able to support one of the biggest events…

Mar 24, 2015  By bubble

Culina is delighted to announce that planning permission has been granted to build a 280,000 sq. ft. ambient food and drink logistics facility at the National Import Centre at Port Salford, creating 280 jobs. Culina Port Salford will have a capacity of 45,000 pallets and the multimodal facility, accessible by road, rail and short-sea shipping, and is scheduled to go-live by April 2016 and be fully operational by the end of that year. The state-of-the-art site will be located adjacent to the Manchester Ship Canal and next to the arterial motorway routes of the M60 and M62. Thomas Van Mourik,…

Mar 23, 2015  By bubble

Towards the back end of 2014, it was decided that we needed to have a website that reflected our status as a market leading food and drink logistics provider, and you’re now looking at the end product, which we hope you like! You’ll find all the information you need about Culina’s ambient and chilled supply chain services on this website, while you can also get in touch with us should you wish to have a chat in more depth. We’ll be using this blog to keep visitors to the website up-to-date with all the key developments here at Culina, so…

Feb 27, 2015  By bubble

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