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Browns Pass Annual Network H&S Audit with Flying Colours! missing alt!
Company

Browns Pass Annual Network H&S Audit with Flying Colours

We’re proud to announce that we've achieved a perfect 100% score in this year’s Palletline Health and Safety Audit – a fantastic result that reflects the hard work our team puts into protecting our people, customers, and palletised freight every single day. Every haulage business operating within the Palletline network is required to pass a detailed annual audit. It’s a mandatory process that keeps standards high across membership, checking everything from warehouse procedures and vehicle checks to employee training and safety systems. The audit is carried out to ensure each member meets and maintains strict safety expectations. From forklift checks to manual handling, racking layouts to reporting processes, it’s all under the microscope. With pallets constantly moving through hubs, depots, and delivery points, even small oversights can lead to big problems. As the British Safety Council noted in a recent article on Palletline’s safety approach , the network is serious about reducing risks – and Browns is proud to play our part. Passing with a full 100% score means that: Our warehouse and transport teams are consistently following best practices Our training and systems are robust and working exactly as they should We’re contributing to a safer, smarter network for everyone Phill Smith, Driver Training Manager said: As proud members of Palletline, we know safety is a daily focus. Achieving full marks reflects the high standards we set ourselves and the hard work everyone at Browns puts into maintaining a healthy, safe, and compliant environment for our team, visitors, customers and members of the public on the roads and at delivery locations.

10 New Trailers Join Browns Fleet in 70th Anniversary Year! missing alt!
Company

10 New Trailers Join Browns Fleet in 70th Anniversary Year

We’re excited to have taken delivery of 10 brand new SDC curtainsider trailers - the latest addition to our fleet during our landmark 70th anniversary year. Each trailer carries our refreshed geometric design, anniversary logo, and the line "Moving Distribution Forward Since 1955". It’s a simple message that captures what Browns Distribution is all about - helping to keep businesses moving through reliable, responsive palletised freight services. These new trailers have already hit the road, delivering pallets across Staffordshire and right across the UK. The arrival of these 10 trailers marks the latest stage in our ongoing fleet investment programme. Since 2023, we’ve introduced almost 40 new trailers in total, gradually retiring older models and replacing them with modern, more efficient equipment. A younger fleet brings a number of advantages. It helps us improve fuel efficiency, reduce environmental impact, and maintain the high standards of reliability our customers expect. It also supports our capacity to handle growing demand - with more customers than ever choosing Browns for fast, flexible pallet delivery. Moving Distribution Forward Since 1955 Browns Distribution has been moving goods and supporting UK businesses since 1955. From our beginnings as a local haulier in Staffordshire, we’ve grown into a trusted nationwide logistics partner. The arrival of our 70th anniversary trailers celebrates that journey - and reflects our ongoing investment in the fleet and service we provide. Whether delivering pallets across Staffordshire or throughout the UK, our fleet is the backbone of our business. And with these new trailers on the road, we’re ready to keep goods moving for many more years to come. #Browns70

Celebrating 70 Years of Browns with our Colleagues and their Families! missing alt!
Company

Celebrating 70 Years of Browns with our Colleagues and their Families

On Sunday, we welcomed colleagues and their families to Distribution House for a very special event - our 70th Anniversary Family Fun Day. It was brilliant to come together and celebrate such a proud milestone in the history of Browns. From our early beginnings in 1955 to the business we are today, this anniversary is a real moment to reflect on how far we’ve come - and to thank the people who’ve made it possible. And what better way to celebrate than with a day full of fun, food and entertainment! Our yard looked very different from usual - transformed into the perfect party space with something for everyone to enjoy. There were bungee trampolines and a huge rock climbing wall, freshly made Neapolitan pizza and traditional ice cream, all set to the sound of live music throughout the day. We’d like to say a huge thank you to the fantastic team who worked so hard behind the scenes to organise the day and turn our busy yard into such a welcoming space. And of course, thank you to everyone who came along to make it so special. Here’s to the next chapter in our story - and many more celebrations to come!

Browns Achieves BRCGS Storage & Distribution Accreditation for the Second Year Running! missing alt!
Company

Browns Achieves BRCGS Storage & Distribution Accreditation for the Second Year Running

We’re proud to share that Browns Distribution has once again achieved an AA grade certification to the BRCGS Global Standard for Storage and Distribution. This marks our second consecutive year of accreditation, a great reflection of the high standards our team works hard to deliver across our warehousing and pallet storage services. Why BRCGS Storage & Distribution Matters BRCGS is one of the world's most recognised benchmarks for safety, hygiene, product control, and quality processes across the supply chain. Earning an AA grade means we meet the highest level of compliance for the Storage and Distribution Standard. For our customers, this gives added confidence that their products are being handled, stored, and distributed under carefully controlled conditions. It also supports supply chain transparency and traceability - increasingly important across many industries. Continuous Improvement Across Our Services Our latest BRCGS audit praised the ongoing improvements we continue to make across our warehousing and logistics operations. These include: - Enhanced hygiene and product control procedures - Rigorous staff training programmes - Documented safety and quality systems - Regular audits and process reviews By maintaining these standards, we not only meet certification requirements but also help protect the reputation of the brands and products we store and distribute. Trusted Warehousing & Pallet Storage Solutions Whether you require short-term pallet storage, long-term warehousing, or value-added services such as pick and pack, Browns offers flexible solutions backed by proven quality. Holding consecutive AA BRCGS accreditation demonstrates that we don’t stand still - we continue to invest in our people, processes, and facilities to give our customers the very best service. Looking for reliable warehousing and pallet storage? If you’d like to know more about how Browns’ certified warehouse services can support your business, get in touch with our team today. We’ll be happy to discuss your needs. Contact us now to discuss your warehousing and pallet storage requirements.

Easter Weekend Schedule! missing alt!
Company

Easter Weekend Schedule

With Easter just around the corner, we've put together our schedule so you can plan ahead. Avoid delays, service hiccups, and those awkward conversations by getting ahead of the rush. We all know supply chains can be unpredictable, and challenges have a habit of cropping up when you least expect them. If you're expecting a surge in freight volumes, need extra collections, or have changes to your usual freight types, please let us know. Wishing you a relaxing and enjoyable Easter weekend from all of us at Browns! Click here to view and download our full schedule and delivery times.

Celebrating 70 Years: Our story so far...! missing alt!
Company

Celebrating 70 Years: Our story so far...

From a single van delivering school meals and potteryware to a nationwide distribution powerhouse, Browns Distribution has come a long way. As we celebrate 70 years of service, let’s take a journey through our history, filled with hard work, growth, and family values that continue to drive us forward. 1955: A Humble Beginning Browns Distribution was founded in 1955 by Albert Brown, an ex-Army corporal with a strong work ethic. After demobilisation, Albert took on a job as a driver before seizing the opportunity to buy his own van and B licence. What started as a one-man operation quickly expanded, as Albert took on more carriage work, particularly from the pottery industry. His wife, Mrs Dorothy Brown, left her grocery store business to help run the company, turning it into a true family operation. February 1965: Official Incorporation and Expansion We hit a major milestone in 1965 as Browns was officially incorporated as a limited company, A. Brown (Tunstall) Limited. At the same time, the company opened a brand-new storage depot and garage on Connaught Street, Tunstall, further cementing our growth and commitment to service. 1985-1986: ‘We’re Gonna Need a Bigger Boat’ Thirty years in, Browns company had outgrown our original home. In 1985, we moved to a larger site in Ravensdale, providing the space needed for expansion. Just a year later, another major transition took place when David Brown Snr took the reins as Managing Director, ensuring the Browns legacy stayed within the family. Browns also became the primary shirt sponsor for Port Vale FC for the 1986/87 season. Under manager John Rudge, Vale finished twelfth in the table with 57 points, twelve points clear of relegation. Andy Jones had an incredible season, scoring 37 goals in all competitions. 1993: A New Name for a New Era Growth demanded a fresh identity. In 1993, A Brown (Tunstall) Limited officially became Browns Distribution Services Limited. The rebrand reflected our ambition and growing national presence, solidifying our place in the UK’s logistics industry. 1995: The Power of Partnership Browns turned 40 in 1995, and with it came an exciting opportunity - becoming a shareholder member of Palletline, the UK’s first and leading pallet network. This partnership changed the game for palletised distribution, allowing us to offer even greater efficiency and nationwide reach. 2007-2011: The Third Generation By 2007, David Brown Jnr had worked his way through just about every role in the business! So in 2011, he stepped up as Managing Director, bringing fresh ideas and a modern approach to the company. His father, David Snr, became Chairman, and the transition marked the beginning of Browns' third generation of leadership. 2015-2016: A Milestone Celebration and Industry Recognition In 2015, we hit a milestone worth celebrating - our 60th anniversary! To mark the occasion, we invested in our first-ever Scania vehicles, featuring a special anniversary livery. A symbol of both our legacy and our drive to keep moving forward. 2016 was also a year of achievements! Browns was named a finalist in the Motor Transport Haulier of the Year and Customer Care Awards, further cementing our reputation for outstanding service, and in the same year, David Brown Jnr was named Sentinel Young Business Person of the Year. 2017: Building for the Future January 2017 saw the opening of our brand-new warehouse, enhancing key services like Pallet Storage, Pick and Pack, Fulfilment, and eCommerce. With our Warehouse Manager Luke Cobden at the helm, our warehouse operations were ready to reach new heights. 2019-2020: A Digital Leap Forward In 2019, we launched a brand-new website, reflecting our modern approach to logistics. But that wasn’t all - plans were submitted for a state-of-the-art, purpose-built distribution centre, a huge step forward in our long-term vision. And always looking for ways to enhance our service, in 2020 we introduced Moffett mounted forklift trucks, adding flexibility and efficiency to our logistics solutions. 2023: A New Dawn In February 2023, we marked arguably our biggest milestone yet, as Distribution House officially opened its doors. The 87,000 sq. ft warehouse and office complex in Staffordshire was a major step forward for the company, expanding our storage and distribution capabilities with 13,000 racked pallet spaces and modern dock leveller facilities. The site was designed with sustainability in mind, featuring a Solar PV system and a fleet of 100% electric forklifts, helping us reduce our carbon footprint as we work towards greater environmental efficiency. And in May, we unveiled a brand-new livery design to reflect our modern identity, aligning with our investment of £2.2 million into our fleet. 2024: Awards & Industry Recognition March 2024 saw us achieve AA accreditation to the BRCGS Storage & Distribution Standard - the highest possible announced audit status, recognising our excellence in warehouse safety, product integrity, and operational best practices. In June 2024, we welcomed the Secretary of State for Transport to Distribution House for a site tour, where we discussed key industry challenges, including greater clarity on Direct Vision Standard (DVS) requirements and support, reviewing driver licence acquisition and addressing the poor standard of driver facilities across the UK. David Brown Senior won the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2024 Staffordshire University Business Awards, while Browns was named runner-up in the Business of the Year category. At the UKWA Awards for Excellence, Browns was highly commended as Logistics Service Provider of the Year. We were also finalists in the Motor Transport Awards for the second year running and won the Commercial Growth Award at Palletline’s annual awards. And now, we prepare to celebrate our 70th anniversary. From humble beginnings to a leading force in logistics, Browns Distribution remains built on family values, quality service, and dedication to getting the job done right. Looking for a Trusted Logistics Partner? If you’re looking for reliable, nationwide pallet distribution and warehousing solutions, get in touch with Browns Distribution today.

A Year Of Innovation For Palletline! missing alt!
Industry

A Year Of Innovation For Palletline

Originally published by UK Haulier, Friday 14th Feb 2025. Palletline , the UK’s leading palletised freight distribution network, has further reinforced its market position with the introduction of a host of innovations which are reaping dividends across the network for both members and their customers. Established as the UK’s first pallet network in 1992, Palletline has since been at the forefront of innovation, setting a benchmark for other networks to follow. However, in the past 12 months it has surpassed all others leading the way with the development of a range of solutions to provide a level of visibility and service that is both unique and unmatched in the marketplace. At the vanguard of recent innovations is Palleteyes – the industry’s first forklift-mounted CCTV and scanning system. Palleteyes is a development that has revolutionised the palletised freight sector, delivering the most advanced levels of visibility and traceability in the industry and in turn improving Palletline’s efficiency and hub capacity. The culmination of a £2 million investment, Palleteyes is a game-changing solution which is the most progressive of its kind, setting the bar for technology not just within the pallet network sector but across the logistics industry. Integrated into the company’s forklift truck fleet, Palleteyes utilises the latest advances in CCTV technology, wide-aspect barcode scanners and event processing to deliver the most advanced levels of visibility and traceability in the palletised freight sector. The outcome is improved levels of quality control at the point of unload and reload, with inaccurate scans eliminated, enhanced safety and an improvement in sortation efficiency of more than 15%. Activating within two metres of a pallet, the state-of-the-art system scans a barcode and displays important delivery information including bay location for the forklift driver. Simultaneously, two HD CCTV cameras are activated recording a close-up and wide-angle video of the pallet from unload to bay to reload – giving network members full visibility of their freight at all times via a cloud-based portal. The system also integrates with the forklift’s onboard systems to monitor driver performance and operational productivity, and weighs each load, sounding an automated alarm to prevent drivers from lifting a pallet weighing more than 400kg above a height of 1.2m – in-line with the latest double-deck trailer loading guidelines from the DVSA, HSE and other regulatory bodies. Another technological development, Palletline’s Photo-On-Delivery service, was also launched, placing the network on an equal footing with the more technologically advanced parcels sector and offering more transparency and protection to customers. Operating alongside Palletline’s digital signature capture process, Photo-On-Delivery allows the network’s delivery teams to use their existing handheld devices to capture photos of successfully completed deliveries. Compatible with transport management systems, drivers have the option of taking one or more photos in case of discrepancies. Members across the network are reporting improved efficiency and visibility across their operations as well as new business wins as a result of this latest advanced technology. Gina Helm, Business and Operations Manager of Palletline member Anglia Freight said: “The launch of Palleteyes and Photo-On-Delivery has been a real game-changer for us and our customers. “Not only does it give us significantly enhanced layers of visibility of the freight we’re sending through the Palletline network, but our customers have total peace of mind, knowing their valuable goods can be fully tracked, with on-board forklift CCTV or photographic evidence, at every stage of a consignments journey through the network. “It has not only contributed to our customer retention but has also proved to be a unique selling point that is attracting new customers to our business.” Similarly, Carl Hepworth, Palletline Supervisor at member Expect Distribution said: “The introduction of Palleteyes has been really valuable within our operation, becoming the go-to tool for quick and accurate query resolution. “Plus, we’ve fully integrated the Photo-On-Delivery service into our own standard processes. It has had the added benefit of improving our service to private addresses too, enabling us to deliver to a customer’s pre-agreed secure location, which ultimately reduces the need for redelivery services and gives our customers complete peace of mind.” Palletline Group CEO Graham Leitch said the latest developments are part of Palletline’s programme of innovation as the network maintains its position at the forefront of the palletised freight sector. He said: “The volatility we have seen within our sector over the past 12 months has been unprecedented and therefore maintaining a competitive edge has never been so important. “The benefits of our new initiatives have and will continue to be far reaching, not just to the advantage of our members but also to their customers. “Here at Palletline we pride ourselves on our commitment to pushing the boundaries, ensuring that we remain ahead of our competitors and provide a best-in-class service unmatched by other networks in the industry.” To further extend its offering and provide its members with additional service flexibility, Palletline launched its brand-new Half+ pallet, providing value-for-money for customers who need to transport pallets of up to 1.8 metres in height and 500kgs in weight. Designed for B2B customers, the Half+ pallet meets the needs of retailers and e-commerce brands and is ideally suited for regional and nationwide distribution environments.

70 Years of Browns Distribution: A Year of Celebration! missing alt!
Company

70 Years of Browns Distribution: A Year of Celebration

Seventy years in business is a huge milestone, and we’re making sure it gets the celebration it deserves! From a fresh anniversary look to events throughout the year, we’re looking forward to marking this special occasion with our team, customers, and community. We’re excited to unveil our brand-new 70th-anniversary logo, which will soon appear across our marketing materials, uniforms, and fleet. And that’s not all - keep an eye on the roads as our special 70th anniversary livery rolls out on an initial 10 trailers, set to hit the highways this spring. Later this year, we’ll be bringing together the Browns team, customers, stakeholders, and families for a spectacular anniversary event - a chance to celebrate the people who have been at the heart of our success. Our social media channels have turned back the clock, sharing archive photos, newspaper clippings, and stories from across the decades. Over the coming months, we’ll continue to refresh our branding to showcase different eras of Browns Distribution, highlighting how far we’ve come while looking ahead to the future. As we celebrate our 70th birthday, we’re also proud to recognise another milestone, Stoke-on-Trent’s 100th anniversary since being granted city status by King George V in 1925. To honour both occasions, we’re excited to be working with Stoke-on-Trent City Council and local organisations on a special project that will pay tribute to our home city. Stay tuned for more details! We’d love for you to be part of our celebrations. If you have ideas on how to get involved, want to collaborate, or see an opportunity for a dual-branded initiative, we’d love to hear from you. Get in touch at marketing@brownsgroup.co.uk . Here’s to 70 years of Browns, and many more to come!

Celebrating 40 Years: Georgia Robbins’ Incredible Journey at Browns Distribution! missing alt!
Company

Celebrating 40 Years: Georgia Robbins’ Incredible Journey at Browns Distribution

Last week, we marked a huge milestone at Browns Distribution as we celebrated Georgia Robbins' 40th anniversary with the team! Georgia joined Browns back in 1985, and over the last 40 years, she’s become a key part of our operations. If there’s one thing that’s certain - it’s that Georgia has done it all! Georgia’s journey at Browns began on front-of-house, where she was a friendly and welcoming face at our former Ravensdale site. She later moved into warehouse stock control before taking on roles in our busy transport office - back in the days of paperwork, before computer systems streamlined our operations! Fast forward to today, and Georgia plays a key role in our admin and finance department, managing activities such as payroll, claims, invoicing, and credit control, keeping everything running smoothly behind the scenes. Georgia has worked under three generations of Browns leadership, giving her a knowledge of the business, that may only be rivalled by our second-longest serving team member - Mick Stirzaker! Managing Director, David Brown Jnr, shared his thoughts on Georgia’s milestone: “40 years… What an achievement. Georgia has been a fundamental part of our growth over the years and an outstanding support for me and our wider team. Georgia, thank you for your years of dedicated hard work and support.” At Browns Distribution, we’re incredibly proud to have long serving team members like Georgia, whose loyalty, expertise, and dedication help us deliver outstanding service to our customers. Georgia, thank you for everything, we’d be truly lost without you!

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