NORTH Tawton haulage firm Gregory Distribution has increased its workforce by 120 after taking over milk collection and distribution contracts in the West Country.

The company, which has been growing annually since 1988, has become one of the beneficiaries following a re-organisation within Milk Marque.

Earlier this year Milk Marque decided to review its national structure and rationalise its milk haulage contracts.

This has resulted in the company reducing the number of contracted distributors from 14 to seven nationally.

Gregory Distribution has now taken over depots at Lostwithiel and St Erth in Cornwall and at Highbridge in Somerset. This is in addition to its milk collection depots in Crediton, Torrington, Chard and Cullompton.

Eighty vehicles will be added to the fleet and 120 staff, previously employed by other haulage contractors, will be taken on as a result of these new contracts.

The firm's commercial director Andy Walker said: 'Milk Marque's plans for structural reform include the setting up of three successor organisations as entirely independent co-operatives by April 1, 2000 — each free to make its own commercial decisions.

'Gregory Distribution will now be the preferred operator for the South West and this enables us to enhance our services to Milk Marque and our other customers while further expanding our workforce and our vehicle fleet at the same time.

'We are continuing to grow as a business and create employment which has got to be good for this part of the world, particularly with the rural economy the way it is at the moment.'

Mr Walker said as a result of the new contracts, the haulage company, whose other regional dairy customers include Peninsula Milk Processors Ltd at Okehampton and Glanbia Foods Ltd (Taw Valley Creamery), felt there will be more opportunities for dairy producers to see locally branded dairy products collected, distributed and retailed locally.

An ambitious in-house training scheme aimed at recruiting up to 100 new drivers was announced by Gregory Distribution earlier this year and is currently on its third intake of trainees.

The 'overwhelming' response from people wishing to train as new drivers has led to the company employing a full-time training officer.

Gregory Distribution will enter the new Millennium with a workforce of more than 1,000 employees operating from 13 locations across the West Country.