It's been a good year so far for Clipper Logistics (CLG) with shares up 32.75% since the beginning of January so news that long-standing client John Lewis is contracting the Leeds-based logistic specialist to develop fulfilment solutions for the retailer's click and collect orders fits neatly with the company's ongoing narrative.
The market clearly likes the idea of Clipper deepening its relationship with the UK's most tastefully aspirational retailer and the John Lewis announcement sees shares in the £222.3 million cap adding 8.6% to 233p.
When Shares interviewed Clipper chief executive at the end of May, Steve Parkin was characteristically forthright and resolute in setting out his company's growth strategy going forward.
‘By 2022, 33% of all retail will be online,’ he says. ‘Because it’s so new, it’s moving so quickly. To give an example, the penetration of “click and collect” in December 2013 was 18%, by December 2014, it was 65%.’ Another niche the Yorkshireman has identified as a major growth area going forward is garment returns management.
Analyst Steve Woolf at Numis concurs: 'The potential to further develop [Clipper's] proposition in areas such as returns management, including electricals, and expand internationally provide further avenues for future growth.'