A York-based logistics business has invested in new vehicles and personnel as well as increasing its volumes by 25 per cent despite the pandemic, less than a year after it joined the Pallet-Track network.
Based in Acaster Malbis, Celkom Transport Ltd, jointly managed by husband and wife team Celina and Lukasz Komamicki, starting working with Pallet-Track in March 2020 to cover the north Yorkshire HG and LS postcodes, just weeks before the UK went into its first national lockdown.
Started 13 years ago and originally providing a successful same day delivery service for York and surrounding areas, Celkom Transport now offers a diverse transport service from vans to temperature controlled HGVs and, as a result of the Pallet-Track membership, has taken on three new members of staff as well as adding two new vehicles to its existing 20-strong fleet.
“It’s been all change here despite COVID-19 as we have been able to offer our customers more variety of services and greater flexibility, which has increased our customer base – it’s opened a big door for us,” said Nicki Bennett, Celkom’s transport general manager.
“Basically, more customers recognise the broader offering and want to send pallets. We’ve also been delighted by the support we’ve received from the hub – you never feel alone as they are always there at the end of the phone. Pallet-Track has been really helpful, as have the other members in the network.
“You feel that you are part of a strong team or bigger family. It’s all service-driven and the network has a very similar ethos to our own – we don’t lose pallets,” she added.
During the pandemic Pallet-Track and its members stood strong by providing a robust overnight network for medical and food supplies throughout the country.
“I knew I had made the right decision in joining Pallet-Track seeing their strength through what was a difficult time for many,” said director Lukasz Komamicki.
“From the beginning, I valued all my customers and their requirements, I can now offer that service nationwide with the support of my drivers, Pallet-Track and its network of members.
“We’d been looking at our next strategic move for two years and in 2020 we identified the opportunity to build upon Pallet-Track’s collaborative approach.”
Nigel Parkes, founder and managing director of Pallet-Track, said: “We all recognise that a lot can happen in a year and we are delighted that Celkom has settled well in to the Pallet-Track network despite everything that has happened in the broader economy – we look forward to the next 12 months and the next chapter of Celkom’s story.”
