SALT LAKE CITY(January 7, 2015) – In 2015, the third party logistics (3PL) sector continued to gain momentum as more small- to medium- sized businesses sought shipping partners to help them gain a competitive advantage in the marketplace. Unishippers Global Logistics, LLC – the nation’s first and one of the largest 3PLs – has remained at the forefront of the industry through innovation in technology and services. Capping off another year of positive growth, the company was honored once again by Entrepreneur Magazine in their annual list of the top franchise opportunities.
In the company’s eighth consecutive year on the Franchise 500® list, Unishippers climbed an impressive 157 spots from last year’s ranking to land at no. 178. Noted as the world’s first, best and most comprehensive franchise ranking of the top franchise opportunities in the United States, the magazine recognizes Unishippers for its exceptional performance in areas such as financial strength and stability, growth rate and size of the franchise system. To view the full ranking, visit: http://entrepreneur.com/franchise500.
“It is an honor to see the company’s ranking skyrocket this year to put us in the top 200,” said Kevin Lathrop, President of Unishippers Global Logistics. “There have been many notable highlights for the company over the past year, including the launch of our new best-in-class, user-friendly transportation management website which provides our customers with access to an easy-to-use dashboard and the sale of 20 franchises to new owners.”
In June, Unishippers achieved record-breaking revenue of $44.4 million, outpacing the previous record of $41.2 million. The company continued that growth trend throughout the year, topping $451 million in annual revenue at 2015’s year end.
Furthermore, Launch Logistics, LLC, a subsidiary of Unishippers, also experienced rapid growth throughout the year and accelerated its hiring efforts to meet demand. Since its establishment, Launch Logistics’ primary focus has been on customer satisfaction, sales efficiency, customer retention and testing out new operational techniques and technology that can then be passed on to the greater Unishippers franchise system.
“Launch Logistics has been a game-changer for Unishippers,” said Joe Curtis, President of Launch Logistics, noting that the Unishippers subsidiary, in only its second year, has an estimated annual revenue of more than $20 million and hired more than 40 employees in their Salt Lake City office. Launch Logistics’ rapid growth earned the company a debut spot on the prestigious Inc. 5000 list.
Among Unishippers many accolades in 2015, the company received its fourth consecutive ranking as a Top 50 franchise in the business services category by Franchise Business Review, was again honored by Transport Topics as Top 25 Freight Brokerage Firm, and was named a top veteran-friendly franchise by Military Times.
Unishippers’ nationwide system of franchises and affiliate outlets are small- and mid-size business advocates who are committed to providing customers with reduced shipping rates through top national, regional and local carriers. The company delivers Platinum Service that includes a dedicated account team for service, technology built for SMB customers and flexible credit, insurance and invoicing options—all traditionally reserved for Fortune 500 customers. To learn more about franchise opportunities with Unishippers, visit: http://www.unishippersfranchising.com/.
About Unishippers Global Logistics
Unishippers Global Logistics (“Unishippers” or the “Company”) is a leading provider of third party logistics services to over 50,000 small and medium-sized businesses through a network of nearly 300 franchise locations and affiliate outlets. The Company offers small package and heavy freight services, including LTL, FTL and air freight through UPS®, Saia®, Estes®, YRC Freight and UPS Freight® and other major carriers to manage the pickup, transport and delivery of customers’ shipments. The franchisees leverage the scale of the combined network to offer customers attractive shipping rates and are committed to providing best in class service. Unishippers’ strategy has resulted in significant growth year after year, and the Company has been recognized as a top freight broker by Transport Topics and a top franchise by Entrepreneur, Franchise Times and the Inc. 5000. The Company was founded in 1987 and is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah. For information on Unishippers, including information on franchising opportunities and price quotes, visit: www.unishippers.com.
