Zellwood Ltd hits the 30-year mark
10/06/2025
Operating out of Swords, Co Dublin, Zellwood Ltd is an industry leader in transport planning, distribution and networking. Irish Trucker spoke with Managing Director William Flanagan to hear all about the latest additions to the company’s fleet, the current state of business and its overall hopes going forward.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of Zellwood Ltd and business is good right now for the Dublin-based contract management and logistics solutions provider who have depots in Dublin, Mullingar, Newbridge and Charleville.
With 190 plus staff on its books, the company can also call upon more than 70 top of the range DAF and Renault vehicles along with a number of Schmitz Cargo Bull and Gray & Adams dual/tri temp trailers.
Zellwood is leading the way in sustainability and decarbonisation and, by switching its fleet to sustainably-powered Hydro-treated Vegetable Oil (HVO) vehicles, it will decrease its CO2 emissions by as much as 90%.
By March, the company will have five Electric temperature-controlled Rigids in operation, with 70 percent of the remaining fleet running on HVO.
In the third quarter of 2025, Zellwood plans to add three to five Electric tractor units and the fourth quarter could well see them bringing in some CNG trucks into the fleet, according to William Flanagan who gave Irish Trucker the lowdown on the state of business at the moment.
“We started the business in 1995 and the whole transport industry has changed dramatically since then but we are very enthusiastic about what lies ahead for the sector,” explained William.
“Retention of drivers is a big problem for all hauliers. We seem to be doing okay with it, but we have to be constantly thinking outside the box.
“Drivers are only scheduled to work four days a week, 12-hour shifts. So, there’s ample opportunity for them to work overtime and it seems to work best for us with that set-up.
“We feel our staff are a large part of our success story with many of them with us for ten-plus years and even some from the very start which tells its own story.”
Over the past three decades, Zellwood has grown substantially to become one of the country’s top retail temperature-controlled distribution solutions providers.
By consistently adapting its services to meet all customer requirements, the company provides a complete one-stop-shop distribution solution for clients based in Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom.
Zellwood is a private, family-owned company with a skilled, experienced and distinct management team, which enables informed decisions to be made quickly and without delays. This results in a more efficient operation, with the flexibility to meet all customer needs and expectations.
“We’ve three main customers and they are Lidl, M&S and DHL,” William outlined.
“It’s long-standing relationships which we find key. We’ve been with Marks & Spencer since 2006 and were involved in setting up their Distribution Hub for the Republic of Ireland and we've been working with Tesco (DHL) since 2000 and Lidl from 2015.
“We assisted with the implementation of Tesco depots in Ireland with Keelings in 2000. At that stage, we would have had 150 drivers working for us on the Tesco contracts.
“So, we worked very closely with Tesco for many years and that’s probably why we’re so successful with them there now.
“We've been with Lidl since 2016 and we’ve just grown from strength to strength. We’re in the three depots in the Republic of Ireland and we’re the biggest haulier within the Lidl group in Ireland.”
Since ‘Day One’, Zellwood has always strived to ensure that its customers are provided with a consistently high-quality level of service.
The high-quality level of service is displayed not only by the efficient way in which a contract is handled, but also the ability of the family-owned firm to move with its customers’ demands and growth.
“With service being key it should be noted our suppliers play a major role in our business. We have some suppliers that have been with us since we started in 1995,” explained William.
The company takes pride in the relationships which it has built up over the years with its entire customers management and operational divisions.
Repeat business has been the key to the success of Zellwood over these last 30 years and it has been obtained via the recommendations it receives from satisfied customers.
Later this year, the company is set to mark the milestone anniversary, although William says there are no specific plans cemented for the celebration just yet.
“There will be something. We haven’t actually finalised what we’re going to do, but there will be some sort of celebration later in the year,” said William.
As for the overall hopes for the business in 2025, William says they are eager to keep doing what they’re doing. Things are as promising as they ever have been business-wise for Zellwood at this point in time and by the end of the year, William hopes to see the company make more significant strides towards ‘Going Green’.
“The hopes are to maintain the customers that we have. We want to continue to grow within our customer base and maybe add some more Blue chip customers in 2025.
“We want to maintain our relationships, sustainability and delivery on service. That’s probably what we pride ourselves on most, the service.
“Obviously, sustainability in the environment we’re in now is very big. I think we’ve been one of the biggest drivers in the country on ‘Going Green’.
“It’s a long way off, but HVO is a big, big help. By the end of 2025, if we can get the whole fleet on to HVO, and the rest would be electric or gas, we’ll have played a major, major part in the C02 reduction within the country,” the MD concluded.
Zellwood Ltd.,
Kettles Lane,
Marshallstown,
Swords,
Co Dublin.
Tel: 01 8900319 / 890 0315
Email: [email protected]
Web: zellwood.ie
First published in Irish Trucker magazine May/June 2025, Vol 28-3
