Tea and coffee merchant Taylors of Harrogate has awarded PD Ports a 10-year contract to handle all its tea and coffee imports.

This follows a successful 12-month trial, handling 50% of Taylor's tea and coffee UK imports through PD Ports-owned Teesport.

The family business will now import all of its tea and coffee through Teesport instead of the southern UK ports with further transportation via road to its plant at Harrogate. This is expected to save about 100,000 road miles (160,934 kms) a year.

PD Ports has invested over GBP350,000 (USD550,149) in upgrading two warehouses, including the installation of dehumidification and specialist handling equipment. From Teesport, the tea and coffee are transported by PD Ports' logistics team, on demand, the short distance to Taylors' plant.

David Robinson, PD Ports group CEO, says the new contract proves that the "port-centric logistics" concept works for a wide range of companies and products. "With our range of services and highly experienced staff, we can offer a much more environmentally friendly and cost-effective logistics solution in many different markets."

During the trial period, PD Ports showed it could meet Taylors' needs, from custom clearance and container de-stuffing to warehouse and just-in-time distribution to the plant in Harrogate. The upgraded warehouses total 60,000 sqft (5,574 sqm) and are designed to handle more products as Taylors' business grows.

"We have worked closely with Taylors to develop exactly the service they need and we are delighted to have secured this long-term contract," Robinson says.