Palletforce Celebrates Record Breaking MGM Focusing On Service & Sustainability

• Highest ever attendance and record amount of £25,000 raised for charity.
• Sustainability panel hears how members are working towards net zero.
• Palletforce adds 16 new members, highest growth rate in over two years.

Palletforce’s largest-ever Members’ General Meeting was hailed as a huge success by both directors and member hauliers as the event welcomed a string of new members to the network and focused on how sustainability makes business sense.

The event attracted a record number of member companies, with 280 delegates and members representatives attending. They heard how Palletforce’s relentless drive for delivery and service excellence is helping it growth market share in a competitive and challenging environment.

A special sustainability panel discussion heard how members were at the forefront of efforts to decarbonise the sector and how engagement with partners and suppliers across Palletforce and EV Cargo were delivering positive results for member businesses, customers and the environment.

The panel included Simon Chamberlain (Chamberlain Transport), Matthew Farrall (Farrall’s Group), Andrew Tucknott (Tomsetts Distribution), Harry Campey (Campeys of Selby), Sam Clarke (GRIDSERVE), and EV Cargo’s Chief Sustainability Officer Dr Virginia Alzina. The panel shared insights into a greener future and the changes they’ve made to help decarbonise their distribution operations.

The star speaker of the afternoon session was Colin MacLachlan, from SAS: Who Dares Wins and Secrets of the SAS, whose inspiring speech covered a range of motivational topics such as leadership, resilience, leadership and performance, taking examples from his time operating in some of the world’s most dangerous conflict zones.

Members also heard from Palletforce directors with presentations covering customer service, technology, network operations, sustainability, member relations and marketing.  

Over the last 12 months Palletforce has added 16 new member companies to its network to drive capacity – the largest expansion of members in over two years – which is necessary to sustain its rate of growth and secure the best possible resource in every delivery postcode.

Mark Tapper, Palletforce CEO, said: “The sustainability panel was fascinating and full of great ideas about how we can all do more around reducing emissions associated with transport and distribution – that is what our customers demand and what we, working with all of our members, are determined to provide.

“We have been leading the distribution sector in terms of environmental innovation, through operational efficiency and best-in-class technology, and we promise to continue with that approach.

“Away from the main hall, the highlight of the MGM is always getting to catch-up with our members – and particularly when there were so many new faces to welcome this year.

“We continue to attract hauliers who are new to pallet networks thanks to the fact we prioritise onboarding, training and support and provide them with mentorship during their first weeks and months.

“The great turnout was a real indicator of much they value our network and how they are determined, as we are, to see it continue to thrive.”

And it was a record-breaking evening too. The Chase star Paul Sinha was the after-dinner speaker and helped to conduct the charity auction, which raised £25,000 – the highest total ever – for two charities, the Midlands Air Ambulance and Kids’ Village.

Mark added: “I say this every year, but it is no less noteworthy – the generosity of our members is incredible. Palletforce has always prided itself on its social responsibility and it is a great pleasure to be able to support two such deserving charities.”

The MGM was held at the Hilton at St George’s Park, which is the base for all of the Football Association’s England teams.