DCS Award For Growth To £100m

17/7/09

A  Stratford-based company which distributes toiletries and household goods across  the UK has passed £100 million annual turnover for the first time – and is on course to beat that in 2009.

DCS Europe was established by chairman and chief executive officer Denys Shortt, 14 years ago and now employs over 200 staff in Timothy’s Bridge Road, Stratford-upon-Avon.

DCS has become the UK’s largest distributor of health, beauty and household products, supplying brands such as Gillette, Colgate, Unilever and P&G to high street stores and independent retailers.

Denys was presented with an award for reaching the landmark by the company’s financial backers, Yorkshire Bank, ahead of its board meeting at the Financial Solutions Centre (FSC) at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry.

“It has been my aim to reach an annual £100 million turnover since we started and I am proud that we reached £102 million in 2008,” he said.

“Last year was the start of a recession and it was very challenging in terms of the industry but mainly to do with our strategic plan everything fell into place and we are on course this year to reach £110 million.

“Our strategy meant that we were focused on the discount sector which has been an area of growth.We have seen the demise of some of our competitors so a lot of business has come our way and we are winning new business through the internet and other areas.

“This year we have increased our workforce by 30 people because we have built a health and manufacturing plant.”

Denys, who attended Yorkshire Bank’s 150th anniversary celebrations at Nostell Priory near Wakefield, said it was the first time he had received an award from a bank.

He added: “We joined Yorkshire Bank 18 months ago and they have been absolutely fantastic in terms of their support of our business not only financially but their moral support has made a difference in a particularly difficult time for business.

“Yorkshire Bank has recognised that we’re a business that provides products that are fundamental to everybody’s daily needs.  As a family orientated bank, they support entrepreneurs and this award certainly backs that up.”

Coventry FSC managing partner Andy Ashton, who made the presentation, said Yorkshire Bank had formed a close, working relationship with Denys and his management team.

“We are extremely proud to be associated with DCS Europe for achieving a milestone figure in its annual accounts which particularly in the current climate is an even more remarkable achievement,” he said.

“All the different financial packages that we offer have helped the company to grow and all the signs are that the company will set a new record in 2009.”