A major UK logistics provider recently announced a major expansion into Northern Ireland through a Belfast-base daily freight service which will local business with mainland Europe.

Europa Road will provide daily round-trip line haul services from Belfast to Europe via the company’s £30 million hub facility in Dartford, England. The major investment will also be partly delivered by Fermanagh transport and logistics firm, Liam Connolly, with the family-run business acting as distribution partner for the new service.

The Europa expansion is the company’s first venture in Northern Ireland and will help drive the success of the local import and export market for goods. Dionne Redpath, sales director at Europa, described the latest investment as an “exciting development” for the company. “I’m thrilled that we’re growing into Northern Ireland to support local manufacturers,” she said.

“There is currently a lack of quality daily outbound connectivity from Northern Ireland into mainland Europe. It’s a massive opportunity for customers to access a service that enables shipments to collect today, ship that evening and arrive into Dartford 1hub the next working day for onward connection to Europe on one of our 30 daily departures.”

Darren Connolly, managing director at the Lisnaskea-based family transport company, Liam Connolly added: “We’re delighted to be working closely with Europa on their new daily service into continental Europe, they are an innovative operator and this is a great fit for us. We’re looking forward to a successful partnership and the growth of this new service to support businesses across Northern Ireland.”

Over the past five years the Europa Worldwide Group has doubled in size, with the business now sitting at its strongest financial position since its inception in 1966. The international business now operates 14 sites across the UK, Hong Kong and Belgium and is operational in over 100 countries.