Delight at top 200 UK ranking for Morris Lubricants
Britain’s leading family-owned, independent oil blenders and marketers, Morris Lubricants has been named in the top 200 UK companies for the fastest growing international sales.
The long established Shrewsbury-based company, which employs 120 people, has been selected for The Sunday Times International Track 200, after reporting export sales revenue growth of 23 per cent for the past two years.
Managing director Andrew Goddard said he was delighted that Morris Lubricants had been recognised in the top 200 list of UK companies for the first time and stressed the growing importance of exports to the business.
“I firmly believe that exports and innovation will be the drivers behind economic recovery in the UK, where the market continues to be challenging with customers reducing stock to minimum levels,” he said.
“Exports now account for 20 per cent of our turnover and we have plans to further grow international sales.”
In addition to providing a quality service to 4,000 UK customers, Morris Lubricants exports its wide range of Union Jack branded lubricants to around 70 territories worldwide, including Australasia, Eastern Europe, South America and the Middle East. The main export customers are in New Zealand, Austrialia and Pakistan.
Morris Lubricants sells more than 800 product lines, including the latest auto and motorcycle lubricants technology for modern engine and transmission designs, as well as tailored grades for the traditional classic, veteran and vintage vehicle market.
Industrial metalworking fluids, specialist production lubricants and biodegradable lubricants complete a product portfolio to fulfil the needs of automotive, industrial manufacturing, agriculture, horticulture and forestry.
New products are constantly being developed by the company, which is targeting the renewable energy, gas engine technology, marine and railroad markets.
“We sell product lines that lubricate everything from lawn mowers to multi million pound high performance racing cars and our products literally keep the wheels of British industry turning smoothly,” said Mr Goddard, a fifth generation direct descendant of company founder, 19th century entrepreneur James Kent Morris.
The company produces lubricants that are capable of operating in the most extreme climates, ranging from the Arctic Circle to the searing heat of the Australian Outback.
In 2010, the Princess Royal opened the company’s new £1 million blending and storage facility to coincide with its 140th birthday. Further investment totalling £600,000 followed last year in a new small pack filling and labeling line, a new warehouse and distribution centre and four new bulk additive tanks with a storage capacity of 220 tonnes.
“I believe the company is now perfectly positioned to take full advantage of new business opportunities as the global economy improves,” said Mr Goddard. “The investment also gives us the ability to look at different market sectors on a global basis with the possibility of expanding our export business.”
The company was founded by James Kent Morris in 1869, when at the age of 22 he decided to leave home and set himself up in business as a grocer and candlemaker in Shrewsbury. As demand for lubricants began to increase rapidly, the Morris family expanded its range to include substantial quantities of government surplus oils, purchased from the Disposal Board set up at the end of World War 1.
