AN international transport company which began life collecting milk with just one horsepower is celebrating 100 years in business.
The Middlewich-based Brit European Group - then known as Carmans Transport - made its first foray into logistics in 1924, using a horse-drawn tanker to collect milk from Cheshire farms.
A century later, the company now employs hundreds of people in offices across the continent and utilises some of the most advanced equipment operating on the UK's roads.
To celebrate the milestone, Brit European has decked out some of its trucks in gold and will be holding a family day for all staff, drivers, customers and suppliers at this year's Cheshire Game and Country Fair.
Graham Lackey joined the Sanderson Way-based company as managing director in 2008 before becoming only Brit European's fourth CEO.
While proud of the company's history, Graham is firmly focused on looking ahead. He said: "I’m not one to look backwards as we can only change the future.
"The company has always embraced change and been willing to try new things which has suited myself and my way of doing business - I just probably do it in a more structured and controlled way!
"The transport industry will go through more change in the next 10 years than it has since the invention of the diesel engine itself. Moving to a net zero environment will be incredibly demanding and the systems/technology to achieve this is not fully available yet.
"It’s a critical time for a critical industry [in the UK plc set up], and will sort out the men from the boys especially on the back of the Covid years.
"Our trucks, trailers and probably our customer base will look very different in 10 years’ time compared to where we are today. It’s never boring in transport and logistics."
From its early days as Carmans Transport, the business grew under the second generation of the Carman family, Ron.
For two decades, from the mid-1960s to the mid-1980s the company was among the first to pioneer unaccompanied freight across the Channel.
It supported European armed forces bases by road, travelling as far as Türkiye, Iran, Iraq, and elsewhere in the Middle East.
Brit European continued to innovate into the 1990s and the new millennium, developing the first specialist carriers to deliver glass safely over long distances.
From the 1980s onwards, the company developed an expertise in the automotive sector, with MAN Trucks and JCB.
Now under the stewardship of Rod Carman, Brit European assisted the two companies with their goals of bring products into the UK from Austria and expanding its sales into Europe respectively.
Brit European designed specialist trailers to carry 'high and heavy' products, which started a journey the company continues on today.
Graham added: "Today we utilise some of the most technically advanced pieces of equipment operating on UK roads.
"Thousands of hours have been invested not only in the functionality of the equipment but on reducing its weight and minimising the environmental impact of the materials utilised.
"With this level of forward thinking and focus on detail, combined with an ecological awareness, and focus on using available technology in the best ways, Brit European Group is looking forward to driving innovation for the next 100 years.”
Since Graham joined the company, Brit European has developed its High and Heavy (car, truck and van transportation) offering, working with Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Toyota, Jaguar Land Rover, Volvo, and BMW, among others.
And in 2023, Brit European celebrated the opening of its new groundbreaking HQ, the Vita Nova Centre, which will help the business operate off-grid and with carbon neutrality within seven years.
The Cheshire Game and Country Fair takes place at the Cheshire Showground in Tabley on Sunday, August 25, and Monday, August 26.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here