17 Jul Garland 250 Year Anniversary
Our member since 1995 from Portugal, Garland Transport Solutions celebrates 250 Year anniversary.
From 1776 to the Future: Garland Marks 250 Years of Reinvention and Growth
As global supply chains undergo their greatest transformation in decades, the Garland Group is marking an extraordinary milestone of its own. Founded in 1776, the Portuguese logistics, transport and shipping company is celebrating its 250th anniversary this year, making it one of the world’s oldest logistics businesses still in operation. At a time when resilient supply chains are more critical than ever, Garland’s anniversary reflects both its remarkable heritage and its continued relevance to global trade.
Established by Thomas Garland to facilitate trade between Portugal and the United Kingdom, the company has successfully navigated some of the most significant economic, political, and social changes in modern history. Over nearly two and a half centuries, Garland has evolved from importing codfish and exporting Port wine into a leading provider of shipping, freight forwarding, and integrated logistics services. Throughout its history, Garland has weathered periods of profound disruption including the Napoleonic Wars, the establishment of the Portuguese Republic, two World Wars, the Carnation Revolution, successive economic crises and, more recently, the COVID-19 pandemic.
Today, Garland generates annual revenues of approximately €120 million, employs more than 450 people and operates around 155,000 square metres of logistics space across Portugal, Spain, Morocco, and France, serving customers across a broad range of industries and international markets.
Against a backdrop of geopolitical uncertainty, the reshaping of global supply chains, evolving customs requirements and growing demands for traceability and operational efficiency, Garland believes that adaptability remains the defining competitive advantage in an industry undergoing unprecedented change.
“Our ability to reinvent ourselves has always been one of Garland’s greatest strengths and remains a critical driver of our long-term growth.” says Mark Dawson, CEO of the Garland Group. “For 250 years, we have responded to periods of disruption by evolving with our customers’ needs, turning challenges into opportunities and continually reinventing our business. That mindset will continue to guide us as we build the next chapter of Garland’s history.”
Looking ahead, technology and sustainability will be the cornerstones of Garland’s future growth. The Group continues to invest in the digitalisation of its operations, process automation, data analytics, and end-to-end cargo traceability to improve efficiency and enhance the customer experience. At the same time, it is advancing its environmental commitments through ISO 14001-certified logistics centres as well as initiatives to reduce energy consumption, CO₂ emissions and waste.
“If the first 250 years were defined by our ability to adapt, the next 250 will be shaped by our ability to innovate, strengthen our international presence and create new opportunities for growth in an increasingly global and competitive market,” says Mark Dawson, CEO of the Garland Group. “Strategic acquisitions will also play an important role in our future, because the secret to remaining successful for 250 years is to keep thinking—and acting—as though the next 250 are just beginning.”
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