Our team | Keswick Enterprises Group | Experience in asset recovery, consultancy, co-packing, e-commerce fulfilment, freight forwarding, logistics, mail/courier, procurement/sourcing, recycling

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Our team

The Keswick Enterprises Group is based in the United Kingdom and operates internationally. It is led by a team of highly experienced senior managers, with unparalleled experience in the fields of asset recovery, consultancy, co-packing, fulfilment (including e-commerce fulfilment), freight forwarding, logistics (including intermodal, road transport, warehousing and international supply chain management), mail and courier, procurement, global sourcing, recycling and other sectors.

John Harvey CBE

Co-founder and Chairman

Co-founder and Chairman of The Keswick Enterprises Group, John started his career in 1957 as a graduate trainee with Unilever – where he worked in various transport and logistics functions. In 1968 he was responsible for the original Unilever investment in Tibbett & Britten, and, in 1984, when Chairman of SPD, he led the management buy-out of Tibbett & Britten from Unilever and Van Gend & Loos (the Dutch railway company) and its subsequent global development across 34 countries. He led Tibbett & Britten Group through the London Stock Exchange listing in 1986 up to its sale to Exel plc in a £328 million deal in 2004 – winning a Queen's Award for Export Achievement along the way.

John was also Chairman of international freight forwarder Unique Logistics from 1992 to 2005. From 2000 to 2005 he was a Defra Advisor, and he has also been non-executive director of Dawsongroup plc, Sygen plc, New Covent Garden Market and the Institute of Grocery Distribution (IGD). He was a Vice President of the Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport and a former Chairman of both the Cranfield Centre for Logistics & Transport and the international transport charity Transaid, for which he remains an ambassador.

His prime function is strategy – joining up dots and fielding loose balls.

Gavin Withers

Director

A CIMA (Chartered Institute of Management Accountants) qualified accountant, Gavin has lived and worked in the UK, France and Holland. A Director of The Keswick Enterprises Group since 2006, he started his career as a Unilever graduate trainee in 1986, gaining experience at Van Den Bergh Foods in the UK, and Unilever Raw Materials in The Netherlands.

On leaving Unilever he was appointed Finance Director of Tibbett & Britten France in 1995, becoming Finance Director of Axial Europe in 2000, and then Finance Director of Tibbett & Britten Mainland Europe until 2004. Just prior to Tibbett & Britten's sale to Exel in that year, he became Finance Director of Napier Brown Foods; then, after joining Keswick, he was Finance Director of Delamode Group (in which Keswick has a 28% stake) from 2006 to 2010.

Gavin was the Chairman of Tibbett Logistics SRL in Romania until its sale at the end of 2017. He currently has responsibility for the Group's co-packing activities (SGL Co-packing and APS), for the development of Entrad Partners, plus other early-stage Group companies.

Barry Croft

Director

Barry joined The Keswick Enterprises Group in 2014 when his company, Foodsearch Worldwide, became a subsidiary.

Beginning in 1976, Barry has had a long career in the food sector as both a manufacturer and an international trader. In 1985 he joined Hillsdown Holdings in the poultry business – leaving in 1987 to set up Foston Farm Produce Ltd to supply poultry to the retail, wholesale and hospitality sectors, trading from a UK base into Russia and Portugal.

After selling Foston Farm Produce in 2000, he created Elbar Services as a UK-based business sourcing foodstuffs, meat and poultry ingredients and packaging – with representation in The Netherlands, North America and Turkey.

Barry is also a Director of co-packer APS – another Keswick Enterprises Group company.

Geoff Gillo

Co-founder and Director

Geoff co-founded The Keswick Enterprises Group with John Harvey in 2004. As well as heading the Group Finance function, he has undertaken a number of non-Executive roles in the logistics and freight forwarding industries.

A Director of The Keswick Enterprises Group, Geoff is an internationally experienced financial and commercial executive, with extensive knowledge of line operations, acquisitions, joint ventures and disposals in multi-cultural environments. He is also a Liveryman in the City of London.

A qualified accountant, Geoff started his career with Peat Marwick Mitchell (now KPMG) in 1970, gaining experience at all levels over a full range of accounting and audit services for large, multinational and smaller clients. In 1977 he became Group Financial Controller and Company Secretary for member companies in the United Transport Company (UTC) group. In 1984 he joined Thomas Borthwick & Sons plc, and between 1986 and 1991 was Finance Director of Vestey Group subsidiaries British Beef and Dewhursts. In 1991 he became Finance Director of Axial Group (acquired by Tibbett & Britten Group in 1992) and was then promoted to Finance/Commercial Director of Tibbett & Britten Europe – a role he held until the company's sale to Exel in 2004.

Mike Wallis

Director

Mike Wallis has been a Director of The Keswick Enterprises Group since 2005 and Executive Chairman of its Spatial Global subsidiary since 2015. He is also Partner in Graphene Partners.

A hands-on manager, Mike has a degree in Law and immense experience in the worlds of freight and logistics. This started in 1980 when he joined the Tibbett & Britten graduate scheme at the Hackney depot. In a 25-year career with Tibbett & Britten he gained domestic and international experience across many market sectors – including fashion and textiles, retail grocery, ambient and temperature-controlled food, drink, DIY, FMCG and other consumer durables.

Mike has worked in freight forwarding, contract logistics, warehousing and transport – mostly as the head of business units in the UK, Germany and South Africa. Clients have included companies such as Walmart, Marks and Spencer, Sainsbury's, Unilever, Woolworth's South Africa, Coles Myers Australia, B&Q and Whitbread. His roles at Tibbett & Britten included Retail Director UK, Development Director SA, and Global Retail Strategy Director.

Mike's focus on Spatial Global in recent years has seen the company expand and move into e-commerce. At the Group's consulting business, Graphene Partners (and Keswick Management Services), he also leads some of the transformation projects underway in Central and Eastern Europe.

Learn more about our management approach...and our successful track record of nurturing start-ups and developing existing domestic and international businesses

Photo:

Tibbett Logistics initially opened this 220,000 sq ft distribution centre at P3 Bucharest Park to the west of Bucharest in Romania in 2008 as 110,000 sq ft (it then grew in subsequent years) - one of 15 nationwide

Tibbett Logistics initially opened this 220,000 sq ft distribution centre at P3 Bucharest Park to the west of Bucharest in Romania in 2008 as 110,000 sq ft (it then grew in subsequent years) - one of 15 nationwide

Photo:
Under Keswick control and local management, Tibbett Logistics became Romania's leading logistics service provider, with 1400 staff and a fleet of over 100 heavy goods vehicles - both reefers and curtainsiders

Photo:
Under Keswick control and local management, Tibbett Logistics became Romania's leading logistics service provider, with 1400 staff and a fleet of over 100 heavy goods vehicles - both reefers and curtainsiders

Under Keswick control and local management, Tibbett Logistics became Romania's leading logistics service provider, with 1400 staff and a fleet of over 100 heavy goods vehicles - both reefers and curtainsiders

CASE STUDY: TIBBETT LOGISTICS

Acquisition, growth & subsequent sale

In 2005 The Keswick Enterprises Group made an initial investment in a privately owned European international forwarding and logistics company – which we also supported with business development and management services. Ultimately our shareholding grew to 28%.

In late 2010, after a change in strategy, we bought-out this business's Romanian contract logistics activities and exited our original investment. At the same time we acquired all the shares in another contract logistics service provider – a Romanian joint venture with DHL – when the latter withdrew from the contract logistics sector in that country.

These two businesses, now wholly owned by Keswick Enterprises, were brought together and rebranded as Tibbett Logistics. This enterprise was then managed as a single entity, focused on providing contract logistics services in Romania.

Although initial progress was slow in the aftermath of the 2008-09 financial crisis, the business came through and soon entered a period of sustained and profitable growth – culminating in it becoming the leading business in its sector in Romania. The staff complement grew to 1400, while the number of distribution centres rose to 15 nationwide.

The business continued to provide contract logistics services for a variety of international companies – from retailers to automotive parts suppliers. There were also significant road transport operations – it owned over 100 trailers, curtainsider and reefer – for retail and FMCG customers.

In addition, Tibbett Logistics provided intermodal support services, and operated what was, at that time, Bucharest's only private rail terminal in a busy industrial park. This involved transferring shipments from truck to railway wagon and vice versa on regular rail services between the Port of Constanta on the Black Sea and the nation's capital, along with all related activities – including transport, customs, container management, de-stuffing, etc.

Profitable growth was achieved through the close relationship between Keswick Enterprises' directors and the strong local management team, combined with a focus on following through on a clear expansion strategy. Much of the resulting success was derived from the combination of Keswick's unrivalled industry experience and global best-practice know-how, and the talents of a very able Romanian management team.

At the end of 2017 Tibbett Logistics was sold to Yusen Logistics, and the business continues to expand and develop.

Photo: SGL Co-packing's sites at Nelson, Lancashire, UK. SGL1 and Head Office is the blue-edged building in the centre, and part of SGL2 is just visible to the bottom right

SGL Co-packing's sites at Nelson, Lancashire, UK. SGL1 and Head Office is the blue-edged building in the centre, and part of SGL2 is just visible to the bottom right

Photo: Under Keswick control, SGL Co-packing has benefitted from substantial investment since 2008, and had doubled in size by 2018

Under Keswick control, SGL Co-packing has benefitted from substantial investment since 2008, and had doubled in size by 2018

CASE STUDY: SGL CO-PACKING

Acquisition & growth

In 2008 The Keswick Enterprises Group acquired a small, privately owned contract packing/co-packing business based in Nelson, Lancashire, in north west England – called Strategy Group. Rebranded as SGL Co-packing Limited, the business focuses on packing confectionery and other dry food products – predominantly for FMCG manufacturers.

After an initially challenging period when a major customer decided to relocate its volumes abroad to be closer to its new factory, we invested substantially in new specialist packing equipment – adding a variety of new lines, and handling everything from bagging to cartoning. This helped the company attract new business.

A programme designed to improve production controls was implemented in 2014, yielding many benefits. After running at close to full-capacity, in 2017, the business expanded into another site adjacent to the first. With this extra space came additional production lines and new volumes. By this stage the business had almost doubled in size.

Today, SGL Co-packing continues as a Keswick Enterprises company, and there are plans in place to further develop and expand its service offer.

More information: www.sglco-packing.co.uk

Photo: Food Search Worldwide specialises in sourcing and purchasing commodities, ingredients, packaging, etc., for the food service/QSR sector in the UK and beyond

Food Search Worldwide specialises in sourcing and purchasing commodities, ingredients, packaging, etc., for the food service/QSR sector in the UK and beyond

CASE STUDY: FOOD SEARCH WORLDWIDE

Joint venture

In 2014 The Keswick Enterprises Group entered into a new joint venture when it acquired equity in Food Search Worldwide (FSW) from the Elbar Group.

Food Search Worldwide is a UK-based international procurement, co-packing and supply chain business, with additional branches in the Netherlands, Turkey and the USA. It specialises in sourcing and purchasing commodities, ingredients and packaging for the food service/QSR sector – importing and warehousing these items in the United Kingdom. It also provides logistical services, including handling, preparation and distribution to customers.

Later the business developed international support operations for franchisees – in markets extending from Nigeria and South Africa to Russia.

A purpose-designed multi-temperature warehouse has recently been built at the company's head office at Foston in Derbyshire, and the added capacity came on stream in the fourth quarter of 2019.

Food Search Worldwide's customer base includes the UK & Ireland operations of a well-known international donut chain, together with supplies to its international franchises in a number of territories on behalf of the US-based parent. The business also supported the UK launch and development of a leading international pizza group.

Keswick Enterprises has unrivalled experience of operating European joint ventures -- in logistics, freight forwarding, property, consultancy, recycling, asset management and other sectors

CASE STUDY: OTHER JOINT VENTURES

The Keswick Enterprises Group's management team has extensive experience in joint venture operations. Apart from Food Service Worldwide, we have successful joint ventures in the UK and mainland Europe. Many of these continue, while some have been sold to partners or disposed of in trade sales.

Between 2004 and 2010 we operated a joint venture – and had active involvement – with Delamode. During this period, freight forwarding offices were set-up in Central Europe and the Baltic States, and intermodal operations plus a container terminal were opened in Bucharest in Romania. A secondary joint venture was then established in that country with DHL.

At the end of 2010 these joint ventures ceased when Delamode retained the European freight forwarding interests and fuel card operations, while Keswick Enterprises bought-out the contract logistics and intermodal side of the business from both Delamode and DHL in Romania – creating Tibbett Logistics SRL.

In 2006 Keswick Enterprises set up Delamode Proprietati as a joint venture with Delamode to develop property in Romania, and we were bought-out of this operation in 2017 – prior to Delamode's IPO on the London Stock Exchange as Xpediator.

In 2008 we invested loan capital in the UK-based logistics services provider Lane Group. A senior Keswick director joined the main Board, and we subsequently assisted in its sale to Wincanton plc in 2010.

From its earliest days, The Keswick Enterprises Group had an active supply chain consultancy business – Keswick Management Services (KMS) – which operated in the UK, Middle East, Ukraine and the Balkans. From 2010 KMS entered a collaborative partnership with Graphene, a Warsaw, Poland-based consultancy operating across Europe and in Russia, and the relationship continues.

In 2011 Keswick Enterprises created a joint venture with freight forwarder Vector Group, based in Gdansk, Poland, to develop contract logistics business in that country. Keswick Vector SCM Polska focussed on retail logistics, and became a wholly owned Vector Group subsidiary in 2014.

In 2014 Entrad was created as a joint venture between Keswick Enterprises and the UK WEEE recycling business, Environcom. Initially Environcom reconditioned domestic white goods for sale in the Balkans. However, in 2017, in a changed market, Keswick took control and developed Entrad as a Romania-based business focussing on acquiring, reconditioning and recycling commercial catering equipment. It now also imports new products for sale in Romania and adjacent markets.

In 2016 ACS Romania (Allport Cargo Services Romania) was set-up as a joint venture to develop intercontinental freight forwarding in Romania. In 2018 Keswick Enterprises bought out its UK partner, Allport Cargo Services, and subsequently sold the business to Yusen Logistics Europe.

In 2017 APK Supply Chain Services was set-up as a joint venture with ACQSYS Supply Chain Services to provide rental, asset management, recovery and cleaning of tertiary packaging equipment – including roll cages, plastic trays/tote boxes, etc. The business supports customers in the healthcare, food and retail sectors.

Photo: A Kalmar reachstacker in former member company Tibbett Logistics colours - funded by Trust Engineering Services

A Kalmar reachstacker in former member company Tibbett Logistics colours - funded by Trust Engineering Services

Photo: In 2007 Keswick Enterprises acquired the Link Group from Farmfoods -- the Scotland-based frozen food retail chain. Part of this business was transferred back to Farmfoods in 2012

Photo: In 2007 Keswick Enterprises acquired the Link Group from Farmfoods -- the Scotland-based frozen food retail chain. Part of this business was transferred back to Farmfoods in 2012

In 2007 Keswick Enterprises acquired the Link Group from Farmfoods -- the Scotland-based frozen food retail chain. Part of this business was transferred back to Farmfoods in 2012

CASE STUDY: CREATIVE INVESTMENTS & ACQUISITIONS

The Keswick Enterprises Group has developed a number of businesses de novo, either in partnerships or in-house. These cover property development, consultancy, asset recovery and management, contract logistics and freight forwarding.

Among the new businesses is Trust Engineering Services – which was formed in 2014 to provide equipment financing in the UK and mainland Europe. We also created Trust Industrial Buildings to invest in property used/occupied by Keswick-related businesses.

Other acquisitions

In 2008 Keswick Enterprises acquired the Link Group from Farmfoods – the Scotland-based frozen food retail chain. The business comprised three separate operations:

Link Logistics – the outsourced (previously in-house) operations that provided distribution services for Farmfoods' nationwide retail network. This business operated five sites and over 150 commercial vehicles across the UK.
Failsworth – a small local haulier, closed in 2009.
Strategy Group – a contract packing/co-packing business retained and subsequently developed as SGL Co-packing from its Lancashire base.

After four years, during which we created a new distribution centre in Solihull, the Link Logistics operations were transferred back to Farmfoods in 2012.

Photo: Spatial Global provides mechanical and manual postal fulfilment, including data management, as well as freight forwarding, logistics and courier services

Spatial Global Ltd

Spatial Global is an award-winning UK-based international freight forwarder, which also offers UK mailing services and e-commerce fulfilment, warehousing and logistics. It provides high quality logistics and delivery solutions for customers across many different business sectors – and is regarded as one of the UK's foremost independent global mailing service providers.

In January 2020 Spatial Global won the Project Forwarding Award 2019 from the British International Freight Association (BIFA) for its work on the intercontinental freight handling of oversized components for the Ariane 6 space project (lower image).
www.spatialglobal.com/

Want more information about Spatial Global?

SGL Co-packing Ltd

SGL Co-packing Ltd is one of the UK's top ambient contract packing and contract manufacturing specialists, providing high quality support to mainly dry food and general merchandise suppliers. Based in the North West of England, it offers reliable, flexible and cost-effective services and high levels of customer support.
www.sglco-packing.co.uk/

Want more information about SGL Co-packing?

Photo: APS's 65,000 sq ft Blyth factory/fulfilment centre provides gift assembly, pick-and-pack, sub-assembly, labelling, collation, flow-wrapping, blister packing and filling services - and has space for further expansion

Assembly and Packaging Services Ltd

Known simply as APS, Assembly and Packaging Services is one of the UK's leading non-food co-packing and fulfilment companies. Based in Blyth, Northumberland, it has 35 years' experience in assembling, collating and packing merchandise and giftware for manufacturers, importers and retailers. The business became a member of The Keswick Enterprises Group in February 2020.
www.assemblyandpackaging.co.uk/

Want more information about APS?

Photo: Foodsearch Worldwide (FSW) is an innovative and unique provider of specialist procurement, supply and related services to the food service industry

Foodsearch Worldwide Ltd

Foodsearch Worldwide Ltd is an international food sourcing specialist, focused on sourcing edible goods, food packaging and allied products from around the world. It works for UK multiple retailers, fast food chains and other leading food businesses, and offers a complete purchasing, storage, picking, ambient co-packing and delivery service.
www.fsww.co.uk/

Want more information about Foodsearch Worldwide?

Entrad Partners SRL

Entrad Partners specialises in refurbishing commercial kitchen equipment – and sells into Romania and adjacent markets. Based at combined showroom, storage and workshop facilities close to Bucharest (next to the main airport), the company provides a variety of top-branded used equipment to the trade, and is now expanding into the sale of new products as well.

Want more information about Entrad Partners?

APK Supply Chain Services Ltd

APK Supply Chain Services was established as a joint venture with ACQSYS Supply Chain Services to provide support for reusable tertiary packaging (including roll cages and plastic trays or totes) - ranging from acquisition and financing, through to collection, cleaning and delivery, along with the auditing of quantities at key locations across the supply chain.

Want more information about APK Supply Chain Services?

Photo: Graphene Partners, which incorporates Keswick Management Services, specialises in providing logistics and supply chain advisory services

Graphene Partners/Keswick Management Services

Graphene Partners is a joint venture specialising in logistics and supply chain advisory services in the UK, Central & Eastern Europe and other territories. Incorporating Keswick Management Services (KMS), the business provides consultancy and insight into the process and management of logistics operations – both in-house and outsourced.
www.graphenepartners.com/

Want more information about Graphene Partners and Keswick Management Services?

Trust Engineering Services Ltd

Trust Engineering Services provides asset financing solutions to Keswick Enterprises Group businesses.

Want more information about Trust Engineering Services?

Trust Industrial Buildings SRL

Trust Industrial Buildings owns and operates property used by Keswick Enterprises Group businesses.

John Harvey CBE

Gavin Withers

Barry Croft

Geoff Gillo

Mike Wallis

Learn more about our management approach...and our successful track record of nurturing start-ups and developing existing domestic and international businesses

Acquisition, growth & subsequent sale

Acquisition & growth

Joint venture

Other acquisitions

Spatial Global Ltd

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SGL Co-packing Ltd

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Assembly and Packaging Services Ltd

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Foodsearch Worldwide Ltd

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Entrad Partners SRL

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APK Supply Chain Services Ltd

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Graphene Partners/Keswick Management Services

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Trust Engineering Services Ltd

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Trust Industrial Buildings SRL

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