Harry Yearsley, managing director of the Heywood, UK-based Yearsley Group, recently welcomed Rochdale Borough’s Mayor and Mayoress, as well as Councillors to the company’s headquarters. They were given a tour of the frozen foods sales and logistics firm’s warehouse extension, and provided an opportunity to meet with recruits as well as a number of apprentices working within the logistics, finance and information technology departments.
The latest build is the first phase of a three-part expansion, which will eventually double the coldstore’s existing capacity from 40,000 to 80,000 pallet positions. This is also the first Yearsley Group site to use a fully automated cart system, which greatly reduces running costs. The expansion has allowed the company to create a northern “superhub,” where stock will be consolidated for more efficient delivery to Britain’s major retail and foodservice clients.
Yearsley Group apprentices meet with Rochdale politicos. Seen from left to right are: Callum Spencer, Oliver Haymen, Liam Jennings, Lady Mayoress Monica Rush, Councillor Peter Williams, Mayor and Councillor Peter Rush, Ryan Brandon and Chris Healey.
The Yearsley Group invested for the future in other ways during 2013, through recruiting apprentices to work in its day-to-day operations. Transport apprentices were recruited through Mantra Learning, the UK’s only Grade 1, Beacon status learning and skills provider specializing in the logistics sector. They are spending time working across both the planning and daily transport operations, learning about customer service, legal compliance, sustainability and efficiency.
The IT and Finance apprentices were recruited from a local college where they were undertaking relevant academic courses. They are now continuing with work-based learning under a Yearsley Group mentor and a college tutor, all leading to an NVQ qualification.
Established in 1955, the Yearsley Group has more than 1,200 employees, generates annual turnover of approximately £156 million, and operates two separate divisions: Yearsley Logistics and Yearsley Food.
Yearsley Logistics is the country’s largest provider of frozen food logistics. With 13 depots across the UK creating a national cold chain network, it offers a 335,000 pallet storage capacity for manufacturers, importers and retailers in the frozen food sector, with a 300-strong fleet of temperature controlled vehicles providing three-day, next-day and just-in-time delivery options. It also offers ambient and freight forwarding services.
The Yearsley Food division wholesales a full range of frozen products through Yearsley Food Sales, Belfield and IcePak.
Yearsley Food Sales has a dedicated team of 30 associates actively providing retailers, caterers, public sector institutions and the export market access to a comprehensive range of products.
Belfield offers exclusive imported products, supplying private label and branded goods to major retail and foodservice multiples.
IcePak is Yearsley Food’s specialist seafood import arm. Working with suppliers overseas, it sources a wide assortment of fishery products ranging from whole and filleted fish to battered and breaded prawn and squid products. Customers include restaurants, wholesalers, independent retailers and seafood specialists.
