This week, same day courier service Speedy Freight has launched its first ever international branch in the Alicante region of Spain. The move follows a year of record growth for the brand, with Speedy Freight expanding by 39% in 2020 partly due to the increased demand for logistics support caused by COVID-19.

The new office is headed up by experienced Speedy Freight manager Ian Boardman and is based in the Orihuela Costa area of Alicante. As well as providing specialist courier services to the provinces of Valencia and Murcia, the branch will also be taking on jobs throughout the Iberian Peninsula.

In Spain, the impact of the pandemic has changed buying habits in the country, with the demand for same day delivery increasing in popularity. This increase means that Speedy Freight’s innovative import and export service has put the brand in a strong position for their first European hub and provides a strong foothold and spring-board to develop further in the Spanish market.

As part of the expansion, the company is already building working relationships with Spanish manufacturers and suppliers in key markets including construction, food manufacturing and hospitality.

The company is also working with the Transport Exchange in Europe to recruit owner drivers in Spain, as well as employing two Spanish team members from the area for support on operations, customers service and sales.

The new branch manager, Ian Boardman has been in the transport industry for nearly three decades. Although initially working as a courier, he later moved on to management roles in Sales, Operations, Development, Area Management and Regional management – joining the Speedy Freight team in 2008.

At Speedy Freight, Ian worked across multiple regions, including Stoke, Blackburn, Preston and Stockport, where he was the branch’s second full time employee and went on to become a franchisee.

Ian Boardman, General Manager of Speedy Freight, said: “I used to travel to Spain a lot, and over the years I’ve totally fell in love with both the country and lifestyle. It’s such an honour to be given the chance to run Speedy Freight’s first European hub, and I can’t wait to see how the brand develops and expands in the region over the next few years.

“Hundreds of Speedy Freight clients are active in both the UK and Europe, so we’re well versed in dealing with the latest customs issues caused by Brexit. At a time when lots of UK brands are closing down their European operations, it’s really encouraging to see that we’re still able to invest and expand in the region”