What Hanbury Davies does

Hanbury Davies Ltd is a privately owned UK container logistics and distribution company founded in 1999 and headquartered two minutes from the Port of Felixstowe, the UK's largest container port. Operating 520 vehicles across rigid trucks, tractor units, curtainsiders, refrigerated trailers, container skeletals and specialist equipment (low loaders, tipping chassis, off-road crane trailers), the company carries over 1,000 containers daily and provides 24/7 nationwide distribution including ambient, frozen and chilled food-sector work. Its portfolio spans network and contract distribution, container transport, freight management, and contract resource supply (vehicles with drivers supplied in customer livery for fixed terms).

The business runs on a custom-built in-house core business software stack developed since 1999, hosted on an IBM server with internet connectivity and offered to other UK container transport companies as an Application Service Provider (ASP) service. A customer-facing web portal allows clients to monitor and input jobs remotely. Supporting revenue lines include a used shipping container auction platform (via the Truck1 marketplace), Hanbury Riverside Limited (a wholly-owned subsidiary selling 1-3 year old heavy vehicles), and container fleet leasing arrangements.

Hanbury Davies generates revenue primarily through bespoke B2B managed-services contracts with import/export businesses, food-sector enterprises (one named reference: CULINA for chilled distribution) and logistics operators seeking contracted capacity. Pricing is quote-based and undisclosed; the model is sales-led with direct engagement at owner/decision-maker level. The company is a subsidiary of Hanbury Holdings, a privately held group that also includes a property development arm and a truck dealership; no external institutional investors or public listing are disclosed. Glyn Davies chairs the parent group, and 100+ vehicles operate in customer livery under dedicated contract arrangements.

Name

Hanbury Davies

Legal name

Hanbury Davies Ltd

Website

https://hanburydavies.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Hanbury Davies is a privately owned UK container logistics and distribution company headquartered at the Port of Felixstowe, operating 520 vehicles and carrying 1,000+ containers daily for import/export businesses, food-sector clients, and logistics operators under bespoke B2B contract arrangements.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Felixstowe

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Logistics and Distribution Services: Network and contract distribution, container transport, low loaders, tipping chassis, and crane trailer services. Revenue generated through service contracts with businesses requiring haulage and distribution capabilities across the UK mainland.
2. Freight Management Solutions: Bespoke freight management solutions that can include vehicles or be management-only services using customer infrastructure. Carrying over 1000 containers daily around the UK for imported and exported cargo.
3. Used Shipping Container Auctions: Online auction platform for second-hand shipping containers in various sizes (10ft, 20ft, 40ft) including high cube and specialty containers with side doors.
4. Vehicle Sales (Hanbury Riverside Division): Sale of second-hand heavy vehicles (trucks) between 1-3 years old, sourced with one previous owner and full service history, often with manufacturer warranties.
5. Container Fleet Leasing: Long-term lease arrangements for trailers (such as Dennison sliding skeletals) and equipment, providing customers with fleet replacement options.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Hanbury Davies is a UK-based B2B container haulage and distribution company providing network and contract distribution, container transport, freight management, contract resource supply (vehicles with drivers), and specialist equipment transport (low loaders, tipping chassis, crane trailers, lightweight chassis). It carries over 1,000 containers daily into the UK industrial and retail network from its Felixstowe headquarters, and supplements this with a used shipping container auction platform and, via its Hanbury Riverside division, sales of second-hand heavy commercial vehicles.

Product overview

Hanbury Davies is a logistics and distribution company offering a portfolio of interconnected services centered around container transport and freight management. Core services include container transport (carrying over 1,000 containers daily), network and contract distribution, and logistics solutions. The company operates a diverse fleet of rigid vehicles, tractor units, trailers, and specialist equipment. Supporting services include contract resource supply (vehicles with drivers for fixed terms), used shipping container auctions (through Truck1 marketplace), and in-house developed logistics software offered as an ASP service to other container transport companies. Hanbury Holdings serves as the parent company, with Hanbury Riverside operating as a division selling used heavy vehicles. The company is based at the Port of Felixstowe and provides national coverage from strategic locations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Hanbury Riverside: A division of Hanbury Davies Limited specializing in the selling of second hand heavy end vehicles, between 1 and 3 years old. An independent dealer that sources vehicles with 'one previous owner' offering quality vehicles with full purchase and service history.

Products and services

• Logistics and Distribution Cost-effective, reliable and innovative network distribution, contract distribution and regional transport solutions for businesses across the UK mainland.
• Container Transport Container transport services carrying over 1,000 containers daily around the UK, serving the industrial and retail network with 24/7, seven-day operations; the largest privately owned container transport operation in East Anglia.
• Freight Management Bespoke freight management solutions that can include vehicles or be management-only, using the company's network and infrastructure to manage imported and exported cargo across the UK.
• In-House Logistics Software (ASP) Proprietary logistics software managing freight logistics, fleet maintenance, accounting and administration; offered as an ASP service to other UK container transport companies with a customer web portal for job input and monitoring.
• Contract Resource Supply Contract solutions providing vehicles with drivers for fixed terms to guarantee vehicle availability, including branded (customer livery) supply, helping customers overcome driver shortages and working-time-directive constraints.
• Specialist Equipment Transport Specialist transport services including Low Loaders, Tipping Chassis 20' and 40', Off-Road Crane Trailers, and Lightweight Chassis (31.2tn Payload).
• Container Transport Fleet Operating fleet of approximately 520 rigid vehicles (38 tonnes+), tractor units, 13.6m curtainsiders, single and multi-compartment refrigerated trailers, 20/40 skeletals, 20/40 triaxle sliders, 20/40 extendable semis, low loaders, side loaders, and 20' tippers, represented by Scania, Volvo, MAN, Mercedes and Daf.
• Used Shipping Container Auction Auction platform for purchasing second-hand shipping containers in 10ft, 20ft and 40ft sizes, including high cube containers, essential containers, and containers with side doors.
• Hanbury Riverside (Used Heavy Vehicle Sales) Division of Hanbury Davies Limited acting as an independent dealer selling second-hand heavy commercial vehicles aged 1-3 years, sourced with one previous owner and full purchase and service history, often with manufacturer warranties.

Quantifiable outcome

• Operating 520 vehicles across various market sectors
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Port of FelixstowecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHanbury Davies is based 2 minutes from the Port of Felixstowe, the largest container port in the UK and fifth largest in Europe. The port is a member of the Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH) Group.
• Road Haulage Association (RHA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe RHA provides dedicated campaigning, advice, information and business services tailored for the haulage industry. They negotiate exclusive savings on key haulage services for members.
• NightfrieghtsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerAn accredited training centre for the Road Transport Industry, providing qualified drivers for LGV1 and LGV2 positions and ongoing training for Forces Resettlement Personnel.
• Hanbury RiversidesupportingOthersDivision of Hanbury Davies Limited specializing in selling second-hand heavy vehicles between 1-3 years old. Vehicles sourced with one previous owner, full purchase and service history, often with manufacturer warranties.
• TIPsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTIP leased 45 new Dennison sliding skeletals to Hanbury Davies Containers Ltd for container fleet replacement.
• DennisonsupportingOthersTrailer manufacturer supplying sliding skeletals to Hanbury Davies fleet through leasing arrangements.
• MANsupportingOthersReceived 100th MAN TGA as part of their largest single programmed delivery of tractor units.
• TransrentsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLeased 30 new Dennison sliding skeletals to Hanbury Davies as part of fleet replacement and expansion programme.
• DFDS TransportsupportingOthersHanbury Davies Containers acquired the Ipswich port haulage operations of DFDS Transport, transferring 105 staff and 80 vehicles.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• XPO Logistics (UK): Major global logistics provider with significant UK road freight and contract distribution operations, including refrigerated and retail capability. Overlaps with Hanbury Davies in container transport, freight management and contract resource supply.
• DHL Freight (UK): Global integrator with UK road freight, container haulage and warehousing services. Comparable on freight forwarding and contract distribution to large enterprise customers, but operating at much greater scale and breadth than Hanbury Davies.
• DSV (UK): Global transport and logistics group with UK road, intermodal and contract logistics operations. Overlaps with Hanbury Davies in container/road freight and freight management for import-export flows.
• DFDS: Large European ferry and logistics group whose Ipswich port haulage operations were acquired by Hanbury Davies. Comparable as a UK container transport and freight management competitor with broader ferry/logistics network.
• Wincanton: UK contract logistics and haulage group serving retail, FMCG and industrial clients with dedicated vehicle fleets and multi-temperature capability. Comparable given overlapping contract distribution and 24/7 retail/food-sector services, though larger and more diversified.
• Eddie Stobart Logistics: One of the UK's largest and most recognized road haulage and contract distribution groups. Comparable as a large UK B2B haulage and contract distribution provider serving retail and industrial customers, though broader and less container-specialized than Hanbury Davies.
• Maersk Logistics & Services: Global container shipping line with inland logistics, container haulage and depot operations, including in the UK. Comparable as a container logistics counterpart anchored to UK ports, though vastly larger and shipper-owned.

Direct peers

• Howard Tenens Logistics: Privately owned UK haulage and container logistics provider with container transport, warehousing and contract distribution services. Directly comparable given similar UK container-focused model and privately held mid-market positioning.
• Pentalver: UK container logistics operator running inland container depots and haulage from Felixstowe and other major UK ports. Closest direct competitor given shared Felixstowe base, container-focused service mix, and depot/transport integration similar to Hanbury Davies.
• Maritime Transport: UK-based container haulage and logistics specialist operating primarily out of UK ports. Directly comparable to Hanbury Davies in core container transport, port-adjacent depot model, and import/export freight management for retail and industrial customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries2 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 Hanbury Davies