Clipper Logistics reports sales jump as it benefits from lockdown online shopping boom

Clipper Logistics has experienced its busiest ever Black Friday and posted record first-half revenues, as it benefited from the lockdown boom in online shopping.

The deliveries and returns business, which works with supermarkets as well as fashion brands such as H&M and Joules, said sales in the six months to October 31 leapt 19.8% to £305.2 million.

The company, which is Leeds United’s training kit sponsor, said trading was boosted from the “continued structural shift to e-commerce that has been accelerated during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic”.

Tony Mannix, chief executive of Clipper Logistics, said “online growth has grown dramatically” this year.

A number of retailers have been looking for more logistics space and transport to cope with a wave of new e-commerce shoppers won during the pandemic while high street shops had to close for lockdowns.

Clipper Logistics provides transport services for Topshop owner Arcadia, which fell into administration this week. Clipper Logistics’ chairman Steve Parkin said there will be no material impact to his business.

The firm saw pre-tax profits improve to £14.3 million from £10.4 million and the interim dividend increased by 14.3% to 4p per share.

Full-year earnings are forecast to be ahead of the board’s previous expectations.

Clipper Logistics employs around 10,000 people, and has 52 sites throughout the UK, including in Enfield and Harlow, and mainland Europe.

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