This year marks 25 years of Palletforce – a significant milestone for a network that C & D South West has been proud to be part of since the very beginning.
When Palletforce was established in 2001, 36 founding members came together with the aim of creating a nationwide pallet distribution network built around independent transport businesses. On its first night, the network moved 524 pallets.
Twenty-five years later, Palletforce has grown into a major UK and European distribution network, with more than 100 member companies, a nationwide depot network and its purpose-built SuperHub. More than 65 million pallets have now been delivered through the network.
For C & D, the anniversary is particularly special. We had already been established for 14 years when Palletforce was formed, having started life as C & D Transport in 1987. Since then, both businesses have developed considerably, but the importance of strong relationships, local knowledge and working together has remained.
As a family business, those long-term relationships mean a great deal to us. C & D is now a third-generation business, and as we look ahead to our own 40th anniversary in 2027, it is a great opportunity to reflect on how far we have come – and the partnerships that have helped us along the way.
To mark the occasion, we were pleased to attend a special celebration at Hampton Manor, alongside fellow founding members and other businesses that have been part of the Palletforce network for 25 years. The event provided an opportunity to reflect on the network’s journey, share experiences from throughout the years and recognise the contribution of its long-standing members.
It was particularly valuable to spend time with fellow members who have shared the journey from the early days of Palletforce. Strong relationships have always been central to the network, and we are proud of the part C & D South West has played in its development from the very beginning.
Lorna Hammond, Managing Director at C & D South West, said:
“We are very proud to have been part of Palletforce from the beginning. Twenty-five years is a fantastic achievement, and we have seen the network grow and evolve enormously during that time.
For us, it has always been about working together. Being part of Palletforce gives our customers the reach and infrastructure of a national network, while we continue to provide the personal service and local knowledge that are so important to us as a family business.
With C & D approaching 40 years in business, and now into its third generation, we are looking forward to the future and continuing to build on the relationships and foundations that have served us so well.”
From 36 founding members and 524 pallets on night one, to a network delivering millions of pallets every year, Palletforce has come a long way.
We are proud to have been there from the start – and proud to still be part of the journey 25 years later.
