A LYE based logistics company has expanded its premises with the help of a £1.5 million finance package from Lloyds Bank.

Andyfreight, which delivers products to retail outlets including Tesco, Aldi, Screwfix and Sainsbury’s, has used the loan to build a new covered loading area and yard after buying two derelict warehouses close to its existing premises.

The aim is to create additional warehousing space and yard facilities for an extra 30 articulated vehicles.

Founded in 1986 by managing director Andrew Pountney, the family-run firm has seen a growth in demand in recent months and has been helping to provide hospitals and supermarkets with hygiene and cleaning supplies throughout the pandemic, including all the Nightingale Hospitals.

The company has had to ramp up its capacity by 44 per cent some weeks to meet the demand, from delivering an average of 900 pallets per day to as much as 1,300 pallets per day.

It is hoped the extra space will enable the firm to increase its barcode and scanning capabilities to help manage stock for customers, as it looks to expand beyond its core freight service and grow its warehousing operations in the months and years ahead.

Andrew Pountney, managing director at Andyfreight, said: “We’ve been growing continuously for a number of years now and the new development was an important next step to help us maintain this rate of growth. It means we can meet the increasing demand we’ve experienced over the past few months and expand our business into different areas.

“We’ve come a long way since I started out on my own with just a single van 35 years ago. Lloyds has been a long-term partner in that journey and has been by our side since 1991. They really understand our business and have supported our growth while still helping us to maintain our small business values. We hope to carry on working with them as we continue to grow.”

David Chance, relationship director at Lloyds Bank, said: “Companies like Andyfreight are so often the unsung heroes of our country, putting in the miles to ensure we have access to the products we need. Their work has never been more important than during the pandemic as they have maintained supply of vital products for the NHS and supermarkets up and down the country.

“We’ve been working with the team for some time and it is fantastic to see them continuing their growth. We will carry on supporting them and other ambitious local firms to achieve their goals as part of our ongoing commitment to helping Britain prosper.”

Andyfreight will now continue to deliver cleaning equipment to vaccination centres across the UK and the business, which employs 55 people, will be looking to grow its team further.