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1941
Nellie Grocott sets up her livestock haulage company, N. Grocott, in Prees, Shropshire
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1951
Current Grocontinental Chairman, Ray Grocott, joins the business
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1964
N. Grocott is incorporated and becomes N. Grocott & Son Limited.
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1966
First continental trip to Mannheim, Germany to transport poultry cages.
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1967
Following outbreak of foot and mouth, company diversifies into carrying salt, coal and eggs
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1969
Nellie Grocott dies. Ray Grocott takes charge of running the company
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1972
N Grocott & Son joins forces with North Western Farmers, an agricultural co-operative. Ray Grocott becomes Managing Director of The Grocott Group, incorporating N, Grocott & Son, Bougheys, Plants of Gnosall and Howley Transport, with a base at Higher Heath, Shropshire
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1970s
Grocott Group transport flourishes – large contract with Kronospan, Chirk to transport chipboard
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1974
Grocott Group purchases first MAN truck – liveried in the company’s now trademark purple
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1974
First trip to Middle East – transporting earth movers from engineering giant Rubery Owen. Contract comprised 76 trips, each taking five weeks and covering 8,000 miles
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1977
Rose Grocott, Ray’s wife, takes over the cattle haulage business from North Western Farmers under the name of J. R. Grocott
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1978
Current Managing Director, David Grocott, joins the business to drive for his mother’s cattle haulage business
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1981
Ray splits from North Western Farmers and establishes Grocontinental
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1982
First computer system installed
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1987
Ray’s daughter and now Managing Director, Linda Grocott, joins Grocontinental
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1980s
Company develops chilled warehousing and commences cheese collections from local farms.
Refrigerated transportation commences with yoghurt from Germany.
Abnormal loads were the currency of the day. -
1993
New distribution centre opens at Higher Heath for Muller
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1996
Mϋller occupies over 75% of Higher Heath site
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1996
First frozen storage warehouse containing 12,000 pallet spaces opens at new headquarters site located in Whitchurch, Shropshire
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2001
Two new multi-temperature warehouses constructed.
Range of specialist services developed including blast freezing, re-packing, labelling, ingredient sorting. -
2002
New warehouse added
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2003
Two new warehouses constructed
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2004
Grocontinental wins Motor Transport Haulier of the Year and Shropshire Business of the Year
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2005
Opening of four new warehouses
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2009
Company invests £6 million in new fleet and expansion of warehouse capacity by 17,000 pallets, with the construction of a new 80,000 sq ft temperature-controlled warehouse
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2011
Turf cut for new 8,000 pallet dry goods store
Grocontinental celebrates 70th Anniversary. -
2011
Company crowned Motor Transport Haulier of the Year
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2012
New 8,000 pallet warehouse opens
Construction begins on a new 13,000 frozen store -
2013
Owen Paterson, Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and MP for North Shropshire officially opens new 8,000 pallet frozen warehouse.
Grocontinental named Company of the Year Award at the 2013 Shropshire Business Awards - the only company to take home the top prize for a second time. -
2013
Driver Brian Evans celebrates 40 years with the company
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2014
Plans unveiled for £11m investment in 22,000 pallet chilled warehouse, 50 new vehicles and 20 refrigerated trailers.
Shortlisted for two major awards at the annual Oscars of the road transport industry, The Motor Transport Awards: Business Excellence and Temperature Controlled Operator of the Year. -
2015
The Grocott Family Charitable Trust builds new £1m medical practice for the Shropshire village of Prees after the surgery is threatened with closure
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2015
Chairman, Ray Grocott, receives a special award from Shropshire Chamber of Commerce to honour his services to the Shropshire community
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2016
Company celebrates 75th Anniversary.
Largest warehouse to-date opens - 32,000 pallet spaces of chilled storage.
Driver Eric Edwards honoured for 40 years’ service with the company.
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2017
December - Grocontiental joins AGRO Merchants Group.