Torque’s new base could see 250 jobs created

Leeds-based Torque – which used to be known as the Elite Group – has a client list which includes Premiership football club Arsenal and a host of top high street fashion names.

Tim Howarth, the company’s chairman, told the Yorkshire Post that he plans to double the size of the business in the next five years by increasing its number of clients in the UK and overseas.

He added: “There are still an awful lot of goods in circulation.

“There is a lot of business out there if you are efficient and attentive.

“There has to be a preparedness to make tough decisions in tough times. It equips you for the opportunities available.”

The company started life 20 years ago as a three-person business based in Bramley, near Leeds, and has an annual turnover of around £50m.

Most of the company’s 550 staff are based in Leeds and Bradford.

Mr Howarth said: “We’ve got a really good specialism in retail. It would be lunacy not to maximise the potential of that.

“Markets we are particularly looking at developing are Cambodia and Vietnam. We cover these now, but see great potential to expand.

“You will see a bigger spread of sectors in which we operate,’’ he added. “We will be moving in to food, health and beauty, and toys and nursery goods.”

Stewart Firth, the company’s head of operations, said Torque hoped to have a new site up and running in the next 18 months.

He added: “We are looking for a significant building in West Yorkshire.

“Initially it could employ 100 staff, with the potential to employ 250 altogether.” Mr Howarth said the company had decided to rebrand as Torque (a name for a twisting force that can cause rotation) as it geared up for growth.

“The name Elite isn’t unique in the logistics area and we felt it didn’t reflect who and what we are,” he said.

“The name Torque got a positive response when it was mentioned at a brain-storming session.”

The company has built up a sales force of six people to run in parallel with the new marketing initiative.

It has also started advertising for the first time.

“A meaningful part of Arsenal’s income is from merchandise and they have got a considerable retail operation,’’ said Mr Howarth.

“They have sales all around the world and a big internet business. We distribute the merchandise for them. We also put the numbers and letters on personalised shirts.”

Apart from Arsenal, the company’s client list includes The Mountain Warehouse, the outdoor clothing and camping company.

In common with all logistics firms, Torque has been affected by the soaring price of petrol.

“The situation with the cost of fuel has been very difficult,’’ said Mr Firth.

“We are looking to see if we can use bigger vehicles that are more aerodynamic and we are finding ways of packing goods into vehicles as efficiently as possible.”

The company has one million square feet of warehousing space, with a head office in Wortley, Leeds, two offices in Bradford and one in Slough.

Torque can help clients with quality control, along with its freight and warehousing servic-es.

For example, the company’s staff can remove and fix labels and repair clothes.

Torque also provides garment finishing services, such as hand and mechanical pressing.

“We have also got a sewing team of 20 people who are finding no end of work,’’ said Mr Firth. “We try to add value. If that means putting Moses Baskets together we’ll do it. Time is just as critical as money.

“We hope to double the sewing team to 40 over the next year.”

An elite status

Torque – formerly known as the Elite Group – has grown organically since its formation 20 years ago.

The company had a rapid period of expansion at the turn of the century, when it bought a large site next to its headquarters in Wortley Road, Wortley near Leeds.

Torque delivers to major markets by road, sea and air.

The company’s pre-retail processing services are designed to cater for products such as clothes, shoes, electrical equipment, children’s toys, and leisure goods.

In an average week, up to 300,000 products pass through the company’s pre-retail processing facilities.