Inverness jobs saved in deal following collapse of Caledonian Logistics
Dozens of jobs are understood to have been saved after a buyer stepped in to take on some of the assets of a collapsed Highland haulage firm.
Caledonian Logistics, which has depots in Inverness, Kintore, Oldmeldrum and Cumbernauld, went into administration last month - putting around 130 jobs across the company at risk.
However, Aberdeenshire-based GS Light Haulage Ltd has now stepped in and agreed a deal with administrators that it has been reported could safeguard around 60 jobs at the firm’s Kintore and Inverness depots as well as at a storage yard in Lockerbie that also belonged to Caledonian Logistics.
The deal includes GS Light Haulage taking on Caledonian Logistics’ former Palletways contract, which has helped to safeguard the various roles. It is not clear if the move will save all of the Inverness personnel employed by Caledonian Logistics or just some of them.
Confirming the acquisition on its website, GS Light Haulage Ltd, which is based in Peterculter, said its acquisition had played “a huge part in saving so many jobs”, but did not confirm how many had been saved or their specific locations. The company said: “[We] are a small family owned business founded by husband and wife Graeme and Johan Skea.
“With the regrettable downfall of Caledonian Logistics Ltd, an opportunity to grow GS came with the offer of a new contract with Palletways. As at November 18, GS Light Haulage Ltd agreed new terms with Palletways and became a fully paid up member within the Palletways network thus securing jobs that would have otherwise been lost with the demise of Caledonian Logistics Ltd.
“GS Haulage Ltd trade also as GS Palletwise and retain the rights to the Caledonian Logistics name.
“GS Light Haulage are delighted to play a huge part in saving so many jobs and look forward to working with staff and customers new and old in what is hoped to be a bright future.”
Caledonian Logistics was set up in 1999 by former owner Derek Mitchell, who retired two years ago and sold the business to the Staffordshire-based Drac Group in October 22.
That group operates six warehouses with a combined floor space of 180,000 sq ft, and boasts a fleet of more than 125 vehicles and 180 staff.
It has been reported that Caledonian Logistics blamed its collapse on the “challenging trading” conditions in the current market as well as a lack of financial support from its parent company.
