CASE STUDY: ROBINSON’S

Robinson’s is one of the Isle of Man’s oldest family businesses. It began from humble beginnings as a small market stall more than 125 years ago and has grown into the business it is today. Still part of the same family Robinson’s, now in its fifth generation, has developed into a leading organisation employing more than 175 people and providing a wide variety of products and services to consumers and businesses throughout the Isle of Man and the UK.
The company’s core business is retail food services and flowers and it relies on Trade Distribution to ensure its fresh, chilled and ambient produce arrive on the island in time to be delivered to its retail and wholesale customers.
Each morning, from 04:00, vehicles leave Trade Distribution’s Lancashire depot to collect Robinson’s buyers’ orders from fresh fruit and vegetable markets in the north west. Once back at the depot the produce is quality control-checked then loaded onto purpose-built, double-deck, temperature-controlled trailers, shipped on the afternoon sailing and delivered that evening to Robinson’s Ballapaddag, Braddan depot ready for early next morning delivery or processing.


John Horsthuis, Robinson’s Director

“Our mission is to serve the freshest produce and flowers at the best value with superb customer service. The service we enjoy from Trade Distribution helps us do this.”

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