Background
 1958
T & A Dennis formed
1966
Cedric Dennis & Tommy become partners
1990
Tommy Dennis - deceased
1992
Katie Dennis & Cedric Dennis become partners
2003
Richard Dale, Katie Dennis & Cedric Dennis become partners
| T & A Dennis was formed as a partnership by Tommy & Annie Dennis in November 1958. Tommy was previously in the family haulage firm of J D Dennis and Sons which was established by his father in the 1890s as a General Carrier.
In 1958 a Livestock Haulage Business was purchased from the estate of George Adamson of Gate Helmsley complete with a Bedford 7 1/2 ton vehicle and livestock container. The business carried livestock to and from local markets such as Malton, York, Driffield etc. As well as the existing clientele from the Gate Helmsley area this was extended to local contracts in and around the Malton/Pickering area.
In 1960 a new Bedford 10 ton T K Bedford was purchased together with a 3 deck livestock container. As well as the new established local livestock business, attendance at specialist pedigree sales resulted in extra business, transporting pedigree animals to all parts of the UK.
1963 saw the purchase of an additional 10 ton T K Bedford and a branch out into general haulage. Roses Brewery at Malton became a major customer, as did Albert Green who had established A H Green & Sons as potato merchants in Malton. Additional vehicles were purchased including 2 AEC 24 ton tipping vehicles.
1970 saw an introduction to Malton Bacon Factory with regular deliveries of bacon in hessian sacks to the West Riding and Lancashire. The move by Malton Bacon Factory into refrigerated transport saw the purchase and introduction of 2 refrigerated containers. The containers were jacked on and off vehicles as required, with livestock containers put back in place as the need arose subsequently the business continued doing a wide range of work from general to refrigerated haulage with 5 vehicles up until 1990.
1990/91 saw the purchase of a site on York Road Industrial Estate and the building of a purpose built workshop and offices. This enabled the business to grow and coincided with rapid expansion of Malton Bacon Factory on the Norton Grove Industrial Estate.
By 1992 turnover had doubled and by 1994 had doubled again to keep pace with the demands of Malton Bacon Factory. By 1995 the business had 31 tractor units and 40 refrigerated trailers with 90% of the volume related to the Malton Bacon Factory.
In November 1996 Wincanton (also part of Unigate) were awarded the MBF contract. A rapid restructure was necessary which saw drivers made redundant and a sale of surplus tractor units and trailers. By the autumn of 1994 a fleet of the most modern tractor units and trailers were retained consisting of 10 tractor units and 14 refrigerated trailers.
1999 saw the purchase by Dovecote Park of the the Pontefract abbatoir and the beginning of a growing partnership. Dovecote are the sole suppliers of Aberdeen Angus beef to Waitrose.
Currently Dennis Distribution operates circa 40 tractor units and 70 refrigerated trailers serving over 30 regular customers including Dovecote Park,Waitrose,Hilton Meats,Vion Food Group and Meadow Foods. |
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