2015 sees records smashed for iForce
iForce reported record-breaking 57.8% growth in 2015 in the number of items it picked for customers of its retail clients compared to the previous year. The company, which operates online and multi-channel fulfilment centres on behalf of clients such as John Lewis, Maplin, Cath Kidston, Fortnum & Mason, Dunelm and Waitrose Cellar, fulfilled 82.2m items during the calendar year, compared to 52m in 2014.
Its peak trading period, 21 November 2015 – 2 January 2016, saw the number of items picked increase 24% to 13.9m, while orders were up 4.8% to 1.6m.
This increase in spend per order was also seen across the whole of the year with iForce recording a 14.3% growth in the number of total orders it fulfilled compared with its growth of 57.8% in items picked.
Brian Gaunt, CEO of iForce, said: “iForce has been able to enjoy its most successful and profitable year to date, boosted by continued growth with our existing retail clients and new contract wins. During 2016 we will continue to focus on what we do best; offering retailers innovative software led solutions to the ever changing challenges of modern commerce though iForce Gateway (Fulfilment), iForce Revive (Returns Processing) and iForce Pathfinder (Carrier Management).”
DPD to pick-up employment accolade
DPD has been listed in the Sunday Times ‘Best Big Companies to Work For’ list for the first time. The company will feature in the top 25 when the full list is revealed at the Best Companies awards celebration in London on 25 February.
The lists are based on employees’ opinions on a range of criteria, including how the company supports wellbeing in the workplace, whether it gives something back to society, strong leadership, provides opportunities for personal growth, and so on.
Dwain McDonald, DPD’s CEO said: “What we’ve achieved in the last year is quite extraordinary and way beyond my expectations. The Queen’s Award and now this have just moved us into a different league altogether. A lot of people have recognised the fact that we have been growing rapidly. But it is just as important to me that we’re growing the right way – by investing in our network, innovating with market leading technology and by nurturing and developing our people. To make the Sunday Times ‘best places to work’ list is a fantastic validation of this ethos.
“As a business we aim to put people at the heart of everything we do, so we do like to think that we have the most motivated staff in our industry. However, it is results like this that prove it, and it’s all the more precious to us because it’s our people saying DPD is a great place to work.”
