Culina Group

Culina Group

Third-party logistics for food and drink

Overview

Culina Group is a major UK and Ireland logistics provider focused on the food and drink sector, offering shared-user and dedicated warehousing and transportation as well as integrated supply chain management. It operates through over 100 depots and a large fleet to deliver multi‑temperature and ambient distribution across its network from production to retail. The business has grown by acquisitions, such as Great Bear Distribution in 2016 and GreenWhiteStar Acquisitions in 2021, creating a broad platform for chilled, ambient, and contracted distribution. Its goal is to be a leading integrated logistics partner for the food and drink sector, helping clients optimize their supply chains and reach retailers efficiently.

About Culina Group

Simplify's Rating
Why Culina Group is rated
B-
Rated B on Competitive Edge
Rated B on Growth Potential
Rated C on Differentiation

Industries

Food & Agriculture

Industrial & Manufacturing

Consumer Goods

Company Size

1,001-5,000

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Market Drayton, United Kingdom

Founded

1994

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Tim Lawlor joined as CFO in July 2026, strengthening financial discipline during transformation.
  • iForce won a Green Apple award in January 2026, supporting sustainability-led customer wins.
  • Culina launched a sustainability fund in March 2026, deepening community and employer branding.

What critics are saying

  • Unite won recognition at Tilbury in July 2025, hardening labor leverage across sites.
  • Eddie Stobart drivers balloted in May 2026 over agency workers, threatening Morrisons service continuity.
  • A prolonged labor spiral across Culina’s transport arm risks customer defections and margin erosion.

What makes Culina Group unique

  • Culina’s 100-plus depots and 22,000 staff create unmatched UK food logistics density.
  • IPS brings £120m revenue and UK-leading copacking, broadening Culina beyond transport.
  • One Culina integrates chilled, ambient, warehousing, and contract logistics across major FMCG chains.

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Benefits

Health Insurance

Life Insurance

Wellness Program

Eye Care Vouchers

Employee Discounts

Paid Holidays

Company News

Culina Group
Jul 15th, 2026
Culina Group appoints Tim Lawlor as new Chief Financial Officer.

Culina Group appoints Tim Lawlor as new Chief Financial Officer. Culina Group, the UK's leading logistics and supply chain provider, has today announced the appointment of Tim Lawlor as Group Chief Financial Officer. Tim brings extensive experience to this role, having previously undertaken a number of senior finance positions across the logistics and business-to-business sectors. His previous CFO appointments include Serco UK & Europe, Countryside Partnerships plc, Vistry Group plc and, most notably, Wincanton plc, where he served from 2015 to 2022. Tim replaces Thierry Held who, having successfully guided the Group's finance function through a significant period of transformation, is pursuing the next stage of his career in his home country of Germany. Liam McElroy, Group CEO of Culina Group, said: "I'm delighted to welcome Tim into the Group at this exciting phase in the company's growth journey. Tim's breadth of experience and insight across both the logistics and wider business-to-business sectors offers Culina a great opportunity to drive our strategic ambitions and accelerate our 'One Culina' programme. I have no doubt that Tim will be a valuable addition to our leadership team." Tim will join Culina Group in November and will work closely with Thierry to ensure a smooth transition of responsibilities.

Culina Group
May 11th, 2026
iForce, part of Culina Group, recognised internationally for Environmental Best Practice.

iForce, part of Culina Group, recognised internationally for Environmental Best Practice. iForce, part of Culina Group, has been recognised internationally at the Green World Awards for environmental best practice. One of its flagship fulfilment centres, iForce House, achieved a Bronze Award in partnership with Allwood's Recycling, reflecting its shared commitment to sustainability and responsible operations. Located in Corby, iForce House delivers large-scale warehousing and multi-channel fulfilment services to UK and international customers. The site plays a central role in its sustainability strategy, serving as a key focus for implementing practical, site-level environmental improvements that drive measurable impact. The Green World Awards are regarded as one of the world's leading environmental awards programmes. Organised by The Green Organisation, an independent, international, non-profit and non-political environmental body founded in 1994, the awards recognise, reward and promote environmental best practice on a global stage. At iForce House, this international recognition reflects significant progress Culina Group has made in reducing carbon emissions, cutting food waste and improving recycling performance across key material streams, including plastics, cardboard, metals and wood. These improvements have been delivered through enhanced waste segregation, improved monitoring and reporting, and the introduction of more efficient recycling processes. As a result of this targeted approach, iForce House now recycles an estimated 2,200 tonnes of material annually, with cardboard accounting for around 787 tonnes (36%) and wood more than 590 tonnes (27%), together representing almost two-thirds of the site's recycled output. To put this into context, the volume of plastic and cardboard Culina Group recycle each year is equivalent to the waste generated by approximately 1,700 households, or a small village. Its partnership with Allwood's Recycling has combined immediate operational change with ongoing on-site support, training and engagement. This includes improved pallet recovery and reuse, with more than 24,000 pallets recovered, alongside a 53% increase in high-grade recyclable plastics, helping Culina Group reduce reliance on virgin materials and landfill. Alongside recycling performance, the collaboration has also strengthened its Corporate Social Responsibility at site level. Surplus materials have been diverted to community use through partnerships with organisations including the Salvation Army, Surplus2Purpose and Community Wood Recycling, ensuring valuable resources are reused rather than wasted and delivering direct benefit to local communities. Across iForce, Culina Group continue to invest in practical initiatives to reduce environmental impact and support a more sustainable supply chain. These include the use of 100% certified renewable electricity, the retrofit of energy-efficient LED lighting, ongoing investment in automation, technology and warehousing infrastructure, the installation of electric vehicle charging infrastructure, and solar PV installations at selected sites, with plans for future expansion. These site-level actions align with Culina Group's wider sustainability ambitions, which focus on reducing emissions, improving efficiency and supporting the transition to lower-carbon logistics. Culina Group was among the first major third-party logistics providers in the UK to commit to the Science Based Targets initiative, reinforcing its long-term commitment to carbon reduction across its operations. Following independent assessment by environmental and technical experts, Culina Group were awarded Bronze alongside Allwood's Recycling as part of the international Green World Awards programme. Commenting on the achievement, David Dugdale, Head of Operations at iForce House, said: "It's great to see the work at iForce House recognised on an international stage. This award is a real credit to the teams on site and to its partnership with Allwood's Recycling, and it reflects the practical steps its colleagues are taking day to day to reduce its environmental footprint. "Sustainability is at the heart of how we operate at iForce, and recognition like this shows that the improvements we're making across our processes and projects are having a real impact." Darren Andrew, Commercial Manager at Allwood's Recycling said: "Culina Group is proud to work alongside the team at iForce House and to see the partnership recognised at the Green World Awards. This achievement reflects a shared commitment to improving recycling performance and reducing environmental impact through practical, measurable action. "By working closely with the on-site teams and continually reviewing processes, we've been able to deliver real improvements across key waste streams. It's rewarding to see those efforts recognised internationally and to continue supporting iForce as they build sustainability into their day-to-day operations."

Culina Group
Sep 12th, 2025
Culina Group Strengthens Executive Leadership with Appointment of New CEO at The Pallet Network

The Pallet Network (TPN), a leading provider of palletised freight distribution and part of Culina Group, is pleased to announce the appointment of Michael Conroy as its new Chief Executive Officer.

Iconic Media
Aug 28th, 2025
Culina Group raises over £40,000 for Hope House Children's Hospices

Culina Group raises over £40,000 for Hope House Children's Hospices.

Motor Transport
Apr 2nd, 2024
Stobart Europe acquires German automotive logistics firm Suloja Autotransporte GmbH

Culina Group subsidiary Stobart Europe has acquired German automotive logistics firm Suloja Autotransporte GmbH for an undisclosed sum, as it looks to strengthen its presence in the European automotive logistics sector.

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