LPR strengthens its European network with four new facilities

La Palette Rouge (LPR), one of Europe’s leading pallet pooling specialists, is continuing to grow its network, strengthening its operational reach in the UK, France, and Portugal with the opening of four new service centres.

LPR, a division of Euro Pool Group, has enjoyed strong growth at both national and international levels in Europe. Francois Gay, supply chain manager at LPR Europe, said: “This increase in the number of facilities ensures we can sustain a high level of quality in our famous red pallets, as well as offering environmental and economic benefits for our customers. We have invested in the new centres to boost productivity and reduce travel distances. Consequently, the CO2 footprint of our leased pallets has further decreased.”

In the UK, LPR is developing its partnerships with XPO, formerly Norbert Dentressangle, nationwide and S&R Smith specifically in the London area. These developments have given LPR access to two new automated service centres where pallets can be stored under shelter: a site in Castleford, Leeds, operated by XPO, and another in West Thurrock, operated by S&R Smith.

In France, LPR opened its 13th site, this time in the Greater Bordeaux area, a strategic location located near a number of fresh product customers. The purpose-built 4,500m2 facility will allow the business to reduce its transport distances by nearly 400,000km annually, making a reduction of more than 440 tonnes in C02 emissions. In Portugal, LPR has opened a new site in Castanheira do Ribatejo, 25 miles from Lisbon, making 12 facilities in the Portuguese market in total.

Gay added: “These four new centres across Europe significantly increase LPR’s storage capacity and confirm its wide geographical coverage. As usual, these technical developments go hand-in-hand with a commitment to customers in terms of environmental and purchasing policy. All the wood used in LPR pallets comes from either certified or uncontroversial sources. LPR was the first pallet pooling company to obtain PEFC certification in 2010, and the certification was renewed for a further five years in June 2015.”

LPR manages more than 70 million pallet movements across Europe, rising from 62 million in 2014. This is expected to grow further in 2015/16 due to a number of new contract wins with high profile blue chip FMCG manufacturers, including Nestle and Kellogg’s in the UK.

Last year, expansion saw the company move its UK and Ireland headquarters to a new base in Studley, Warwickshire, and make strategic new appointments to boost its UK and Ireland performance. LPR now has over 40 personnel in the UK and Ireland.