iForce, the fastest growing supply chain business in the UK, has enjoyed its most successful year to date after processing a record number of items and orders for its retail customers. During 2016, the company handled 85.1 million items on behalf of clients such as John Lewis, Aldi and Maplin, representing a year-on-year growth of 18.2%.

The business also witnessed double-digit growth in the number of orders fulfilled via iForce Gateway during the last 12 months, up 14% to 7.1 million, with all figures incorporating both e-commerce and non e-commerce despatches. iForce Gateway, the company’s fulfilment and warehouse management solution, which is powered by its exclusive software SMART, is designed to help retailers achieve the highest levels of product availability and operating efficiency.

The positive annual results were supported by a prosperous peak season that saw iForce handle 13.9 million items between 21st November and 2 January, up 10.7% on the corresponding period for the previous year. The company also processed a record number of orders during the festive period, up 12.4% to 1.75 million. During Black Friday alone, iForce’s teams picked 193,561 items and fulfilled 65,047 orders, representing 12.6% and 8.8% rises respectively on 2015 figures.

Throughout 2016, iForce was also buoyed by a number of new business wins with key retailers such as Aldi and Houseology, service extensions with the likes of Maplin, who awarded iForce their returns processing, as well as securing contract renewals with clients including John Lewis and Cath Kidston.

Brian Gaunt, CEO of iForce, said: “Due to our ongoing investment, the expertise of our people, and the proficiency of our unique and sophisticated portfolio of in-house software, we have been able to enjoy a hugely successful 2016. Not only do we possess the infrastructure that allowed us to comfortably handle record volumes, including throughout the busy peak trading period, but we have also secured new service agreements with a number of the UK’s leading retailers. This proves that we have the foundations in place to allow sustained growth and to further cement our position as the industry leader.”