Mountain Industries’ foray into Queensland pays off, signing a long-term multi-million dollar contract with Inghams Enterprises
By Rob McKay | October 20, 2011
Mountain Industries’ foray into Queensland has borne fruit with Managing Director Mike Almond signing a dry-bulk delivery contract with Inghams Enterprises.
Almond (pictured) stated that being awarded “such a significant contract” vindicated the company’s expansion into the Queensland market through the purchase of Sunstate Transport from administrators late last year.
“This will underpin the business in Queensland and give us a firm foothold to allow us to expand in the market,” Almond says.
He would not be drawn on how much it was worth, confirming only that it was a long term, multi-million dollar agreement that involves delivery of all the feed from the Hemmant feed mill to regionally located chicken farms.
“It fits our strategy,” Almond says of the move that came after a tender process that lasted several months.
“We like to think we do the difficult jobs.”
The tender process had been “very open, very fair” and both parties were “looking forward to driving the safety compliance agenda”.
The company now operates 35 prime movers and 60 trailers from its Brisbane and Townsville depots.
Almond does not expect to be in the market for more equipment to handle the extra loads put at about 20,000 tonnes a year.
He says the company had recently bought equipment, amounting to about 12 combinations, and taken on drivers. However, there would be investment in GPS tracking and geo-fencing over the next two months.
Almond says that while Mountain Industries in Queensland is now involved in port and container work and warehousing, it would continue to pursue bulk transport opportunities in the state.
The company has not yet delved into the West Australian market but it says it is open to any opportunities should they arise.