Arco posts record sales as safety firm’s contract wins push profits up 10pc

The fourth-generation family-owned business, which supplies equipment, training and advice, recorded a 7.6 per cent rise in sales, with profit up to £15.4m.

Excluding exceptional items, this equated to 10 per cent increase in operating profit, according to its full year financial results.

Last year, sales totalled £249m with £11.5m operating profit.

This year’s success was driven by a number of large contract wins across the year, in addition to continued improvement in internal processes and operational efficiency, the firm said.

This year saw the company invest in a comprehensive staff training programme and several IT projects, including improved e-commerce facilities and infrastructure at its National Distribution Centre in Hull.

Since June, Arco has opened its Product Assurance Laboratory, based in Hull.

The £500,000 suite tests Arco-branded footwear, gloves, high-visibility clothing, workwear and hazardwear, which makes up around 36 per cent of its 22,000 product lines.

Arco’s joint managing directors Thomas Martin and Neil Jowsey said the company’s performance was due to “the total commitment and effort of everyone across the Arco business”.

The directors said in a statement: “Our core purpose is to keep people safe at work and our people continue to work to our values of respect for people, excellence in reputation, hard work and enterprise, never losing sight of what our customer needs.

“We must constantly review our business to ensure that we remain competitive and deliver excellent service to our customers.”

“Our strategy of continued investment in 2014 will enable us to develop successful, long-term improvements that will deliver what our customers need and ensure that Arco continues to maintain its market leading position.”