What Gregory does

Gregory Group is a UK-wide third-party logistics (3PL) provider operating four heritage brands — Gregory Distribution (founded 1919), Hayton Coulthard (1916), Pollock (1935) and Craib (1970s) — under a single national network. The company is family-owned in its third generation under John Gregory. Through approximately 50 depots, 20 warehouses (2 million sq ft of ambient, chilled, frozen and bonded storage), 1,200 vehicles and 2,000 trailers, Gregory delivers ambient and chilled distribution, pallet network services, milk collection, specialist transportation, and warehousing across six verticals: Food & Drink, Retail, Dairy, Manufacturing, Utilities & Energy, and Forestry & Construction. The group employs 3,000+ people and reports turnover of £350 million; its dairy business collects 20% of UK milk production (2.2 billion litres annually).

Revenue is generated through contract-based 3PL arrangements (managed services), per-pallet/consignment transaction fees for pallet network work, and recurring storage fees across the warehouse portfolio. The customer base is enterprise-led (Amazon, BrewDog, Arla, Allied Bakeries, Yeo Valley, Garador, South West Water, Tarmac, Baxters) with multi-year contracts handled through a direct field-sales motion and account managers. A self-service pallet booking portal supports smaller consignments. Pricing is quote-based, customised by volume, distance, and service complexity. Recent M&A activity (Pollock 2021; John Mitchell Grangemouth 2025) has been additive to scale rather than transformational.

Technology stack centres on a Warehouse Management System optimising supply chain operations, complemented by in-house developed customer-facing portals: a Milk Collection App providing real-time visibility for 130 dairy tankers, a Bio Solids Tracking Portal for South West Water, and a Track-and-Trace pallet visibility solution. Sustainability credentials are a deliberate commercial differentiator: the group is one of only 90 road transport businesses globally with SBTi-validated emissions targets (net zero by 2038), holds a BRCGS AA rating across all food warehouses, and is certified by Ecovadis and the Zemo RFAS Fleet Scheme. Awards in 2025 (Motor Transport Low Carbon, Amazon Sustainable Mover, Logistics UK Most Innovative Company of the Year) reinforce positioning in sustainability-led enterprise procurement.

Name

Gregory

Legal name

Gregory Distribution (Holdings) Ltd

Website

https://gregory.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1916

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Gregory Group is a UK-wide third-party logistics provider operating four heritage brands (Gregory Distribution, Hayton Coulthard, Craib, Pollock) offering ambient and chilled distribution, warehousing, pallet networks, milk collection, and specialist transportation across food and drink, retail, dairy, manufacturing, utilities, and construction sectors for enterprise customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Third-Party Logistics (3PL)

SIC

Public Warehousing & Storage (4220), Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731)

akta.pro primary industry

Inventory Planning & Replenishment Orchestration (Multi-Echelon) (TLAIABAG)

akta.pro secondary industry

Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) & FMCG (TLAIALAH)

Keywords

• Third-party logistics
• Ambient chilled distribution
• Warehousing storage services
• Milk collection transport
• Pallet network delivery

Headquarters

HQ city

Exeter

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Third-Party Logistics (3PL) Services: Comprehensive logistics services including transport, warehousing, and supply chain management for business customers. Revenue generated through contract-based arrangements with enterprise and mid-market clients requiring ongoing logistics solutions.
2. Ambient & Chilled Distribution: Full load and groupage transportation services with dedicated or shared fleet solutions. Revenue based on volume, distance, and service requirements.
3. Storage & Warehousing: Ambient, refrigerated, frozen, and bonded warehousing with 2 million sq ft of space. Revenue generated from storage capacity usage and handling services.
4. Milk Collection & Distribution: Specialized dairy industry logistics collecting 20% of UK milk production. Revenue from contract logistics for dairy companies.
5. Pallet Network Services: Pallet delivery services through Palletline and Palletways networks. Revenue from per-pallet and consignment fees.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Gregory Group provides integrated UK-wide third-party logistics services through four heritage brands, including ambient and chilled distribution, temperature-controlled and bonded warehousing, pallet network delivery, milk collection and transhipment, and specialist transportation for unique loads. Operations are supported by a fleet of 1,200 vehicles, 2,000 trailers, 50 depots, and 20 warehouses offering 2 million sq ft of storage capacity, serving enterprise customers across food & drink, retail, dairy, manufacturing, utilities, and forestry sectors.

Product overview

Gregory Group is a UK-wide 3PL logistics company operating four brands—Gregory Distribution, Hayton Coulthard, Craib, and Pollock—providing a comprehensive suite of logistics services. The core offering includes ambient and chilled distribution, storage and warehousing (with 20 facilities and 2 million+ sq ft), pallet networks, milk collection and distribution, and specialist transportation. The company serves six industry verticals: Food & Drink, Retail, Dairy, Manufacturing, Utilities & Energy, and Forestry & Construction. With a fleet of 1,200 vehicles, 2,000 trailers, and 3,000+ employees across 50 UK depots, Gregory delivers end-to-end supply chain solutions supported by a proprietary Warehouse Management System (WMS) and milk collection app technology.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ambient & Chilled Distribution Full load and groupage transportation services for ambient and temperature-controlled goods using a fleet of over 2,000 trailers and 1,200 vehicles across the UK, offered as dedicated or shared-user transport for enterprise customers.
• Storage & Warehousing Ambient, chilled, frozen, and bonded warehousing across 20 UK warehouses providing more than 2 million sq ft of storage, including cross-docking, picking, and fulfillment services with BRCGS AA rating for food storage facilities.
• Pallet Networks UK-wide pallet delivery services operating from hubs in Scotland and South West England through partnerships with Palletline, Palletways, and The Hazchem Network, offering 24-48 hour delivery windows and hazardous materials handling.
• Milk Collection & Distribution Farm milk collection and transhipment services with a 40-year history, collecting 2.2 billion litres of milk annually from 20% of UK dairy farms using 130 vehicles and supported by a proprietary real-time milk collection app.
• Specialist Transportation Tailored transport solutions for unique requirements including bulk tanks, timber, scrap metal, bio-solids, and electricity pylons, with over 50 years of experience in timber and building materials transportation.
• Gregory Distribution (Sub-brand) The primary brand of Gregory Group, providing logistics solutions across the UK from its origins in Devon in 1919, delivering ambient and chilled distribution, storage, warehousing, pallet networks, milk collection, and specialist transportation services.
• Hayton Coulthard (Sub-brand) A Scottish logistics brand operated by the fourth generation of the Coulthard family, dating back to 1916, providing transport and specialist logistics services now part of Gregory Group with national coverage.
• Craib (Sub-brand) A northeast Scotland-based haulage company with 50 years of experience, acquired by Gregory Group in 2018, specializing in transportation, specialist haulage, pallet networks, and storage/warehousing for oil & gas and paper industries.
• Pollock (Sub-brand) A central Scotland logistics brand established in 1935, acquired by Gregory Group in 2021, providing dependable transportation services with individually named trucks as a brand tradition and a team of 200 people.

Quantifiable outcome

• 20% of UK milk production collected, representing 2.2 billion litres annually
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, specialist and supporting.

• Pollock (Scotrans) LtdcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Acquired by Gregory Group in 2021. Well-known brand in central Scotland for 90 years providing transportation services across the UK. Team of 200 people.
• ARR Craib TransportcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Acquired by Gregory Group in 2018 with £50 million turnover and 275 vehicles. Stronghold in northeast Scotland supporting oil & gas and paper industries.
• Hayton Coulthard TransportcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2010Joint venture established in 2010 between Gregory Distribution and Hayton Coulthard. Both companies had worked together for 30 years prior. Combined operations enable coverage of remote UK areas including Scottish regions.
• PalletlinecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUK-wide pallet network partnership with hubs across the country enabling collection and distribution of pallets within 24 or 48-hour time windows from Gregory's South West England and Scotland locations.
• PalletwayscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUK-wide pallet network partnership providing cost-effective delivery solutions for customers in Scotland and South West England regions.
• The Hazchem NetworkspecialistChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSpecialist network provider for hazardous materials offering next-day delivery service across mainland UK for pallets and parcels of hazardous materials.
• Zemo PartnershipsupportingTechnology or IntegrationProvider of RFAS Fleet Scheme for independently verified carbon savings declarations. Gregory Group uses this scheme to provide customers with verified carbon reduction evidence.
• John Mitchell (Grangemouth) LtdsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcquired by Gregory Group expanding operations in the Grangemouth area of Scotland.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Eddie Stobart Logistics: Eddie Stobart operates a UK-wide road transport and contract logistics business with large multi-temperature and warehousing operations. It directly competes with Gregory for enterprise retail and food & drink accounts.
• Wincanton: Wincanton is the largest UK-domiciled 3PL contract logistics operator with comparable service lines across warehousing, transport, and dedicated fleet. Its scale and broad customer base make it the closest like-for-like UK competitor to Gregory Group.
• Culina Group: Culina Group is a UK-headquartered logistics and storage specialist with comparable temperature-controlled and ambient warehousing operations. Like Gregory, it serves food & drink manufacturers and retailers with dedicated fleet and depot networks.

Broad incumbents

• DHL Supply Chain UK: DHL Supply Chain is the global leader in contract logistics and operates a large UK network offering warehousing, transport, and multi-modal solutions. It overlaps directly with Gregory on enterprise B2B logistics but as part of a much wider global portfolio.
• Yusen Logistics (UK): Yusen Logistics operates contract logistics, warehousing, and distribution services in the UK as part of a global network. It competes for retail and FMCG distribution contracts with comparable temperature-controlled capability.
• GXO Logistics: GXO Logistics is one of the world's largest pure-play contract logistics providers with significant UK and European operations. It competes for the same enterprise warehousing and integrated logistics contracts as Gregory but at substantially greater scale and with broader geographic reach.
• DSV Solutions (UK): DSV operates contract logistics and road freight in the UK as part of its global forwarding and logistics platform. It competes for the same enterprise warehousing and distribution deals as Gregory but at much larger group scale.
• Kuehne+Nagel UK: Kuehne+Nagel operates contract logistics and dedicated road transport solutions in the UK as part of its global network. It overlaps with Gregory on multi-customer, multi-site B2B logistics mandates but serves them as a portfolio piece of a global provider.

Others

• Palletline: Palletline is a UK pallet network operator that is both a Gregory channel partner and a comparable business in the palletized freight segment. It represents the network infrastructure on which much of Gregory's small-pallet offering depends.

Regional players

• DX (Delivery) Group: DX Group provides UK parcel, freight, and secure logistics services. While smaller and more parcel-focused, it overlaps with Gregory's pallet network and specialist B2B distribution offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/gregorydist

Compliance8 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Gregory