Growing Bradford freight forwarder Hellmann has expanded its international service.

The company, based on Cemetery Road, has expanded over the past few years through alliances with a number of European freight companies.

The Bradford firm's latest link-up is with the German-based Hamann Group which has appointed Hellmann as its exclusive UK agent.

Hellmann will take over Hamann's services between the UK and Germany, Spain, Poland and Ireland.

The deal means Hamann's UK depots at Basildon, Birmingham and Manchester will be closed and the business transferred to Hellmann depots in Bradford, Tamworth and Rainham.

Hellmann will maintain the routes previously operated by the Hamann Group and open up Hellmann's network to current Hamann customers.

Janet Baker, Hellmann's European director, sees the agreement as valuable to the two firms' customers.

She said: "The new arrangement offers the best of both worlds. We will continue to operate Hamann's existing routes as before, in addition to our own extensive network.

"The net result is more routes and more departures, which means greater choice for both sets of customers."

Hellmann International is the UK subsidiary of the German group of the same name, which is one of the world's top 15 forwarding companies. It employs more than 5,700 people worldwide.

Hamann Group employs 1,500 people at 70 branches throughout the world.

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