Chris Porter, currently Business Development Manager at Kukla, began his working life in London in September 1979, in the warehouses of Rawlings Voight & Co, in Waterloo, before joining the family firm Porter & Laker Ltd (founded in 1878) in Kennington in 1980. Learning how to drive a forklift, repair broken pallets and make tea for irate drivers were part and parcel of understanding the day-to-day workings of a bonded warehouse. “It was a real education,” says Chris. “A steep learning curve but one which immediately helped me realise that having efficient warehousing and distribution networks was a cornerstone to the success of any drinks business. I quickly knew that my colleagues and people made it work.”, added Chris.
I’ve never been “nine to five”
After a short time away travelling in 1983, Chris took on a role as Porter & Laker’s first Sales Manager in January 1984 and never looked back. “I would put a line through my diary and just travel the UK for weeks at a time, talking not just to supply chain managers but making time to get to know other people in their business, not just the shipping departments.”
Chris remembers: “I’ve never been “nine to five” and loved playing Wine Trade sport, rugby and golf, as well as the various social and trade charity, then The Benevolent, and trade tastings, that I was lucky enough to get invited to from time to time.”
“I knew that Porter & Laker Ltd. had a great reputation for shipping and forwarding, but our main business tended to be quite London-centric. I was keen to visit as many companies in the Midlands, North and Scotland as I could. I always knew our product and service was a market leader, so I was very confident we could grow our shipping business significantly.”
Journey in wine logistics and a perfect synergy
Chris joined his father, Harold Porter and business partner, Richard Laker, on the board of Porter & Laker Ltd. in 1987 as Sales Director. Chris’s desire to meet more people in the industry and deepen his understanding of the trade led him to become a member of the Wine & Spirit Trade Club (formerly the Under-40 Club) from 1987 to 1992. He served as the Chairman in 1990, further enhancing his involvement in the field.
Chris also became a life member of the Wine Trade Sports Club and was President in 2000/2001. He continues to organise and participate in several of the Club’s annual golf fixtures.
When the decision was made in 1989 to sell both Porter & Laker bonded warehouses in Kennington and Charlton, with Harold Porter’s pending retirement in 1990, a friendly competitor was sought to take over the family firm in order for it to build on its successful reputation for service. This came in the form of Ferry Freighting Ltd, a rival company specialising in the larger movement of drinks for supermarkets and high-street “nationals”.
Set up by Tom Yusef, Russell Littlejohn and Georgio Dissegna in 1972, the synergy between the two companies was perfect. It enabled P&L to acquire access to a greater range of carrier partners and shipping lines, as well as enhancing the family firm’s limited technical capabilities. For FFG, the acquisition of the longest-established forwarder to the UK wine trade gave further credibility to the company’s fast-growing reputation for integrity and service.
Chris and Richard, along with six key members of the Porter & Laker operational team, joined Ferry Freighting in 1992. Chris continued maintaining the historical Porter & Laker Ltd clients under the newly formed Porter & Laker Division of Ferry Freighting (FFG), working closely and successfully with FFG Chairman, Tom Yusef. The respect and friendship formed between those two companies and the personalities behind them is one that still endures today.
FFG were themselves acquired into a partnership by JF Hillebrand in 1998.
Back to the day job and armed with the ability to offer an even greater reach of service and further global carrier and capability, Chris and Porter & Laker (now a division of FFG Hillebrand) – increasing client numbers and year-on-year turnover through the 2000s.
The freedom given to Porter & Laker (P&L) in the new set up gave Chris and P&L the ability to continue to work with specific carrier partners, managing specialist groupage requirements for clients with high value or time sensitive wine orders which is what set the P&L division apart.
I loved our family firm and the fact that the name was so respected through the drinks industry, especially the UK wine trade.
Chris became Director of the UK company in 2005 after the retirement of Richard Laker in the same year and was appointed to the Board of the parent company. The Porter & Laker division remained under Chris’s control after acquisition of the remaining FFG Holdings shares by Hillebrand in 2008. The old family firm had now become Porter & Laker – A division of JF Hillebrand.
“It was a really exciting time”, says Chris. “I loved our family firm and the fact that the name was so respected through the drinks industry, especially the UK wine trade. To have the opportunity to operate and sell our services, with increased service capability and global support was amazing. As a result, our business grew exponentially, one thing never changed though from those early days in the warehouse. It was the people around me that made it happen.”
“I was lucky to have people who knew the intricacies of exporting a single case of whisky to Hong Kong, or who could talk me through the machinations of duty and VAT re-claim, or any one of a thousand queries that have come my way from customers over the years. There was always someone who I could call on who would have an answer. When you are the front-face of the Company, the one who listens to client requirements to feedback to operational teams, having the right person who can supply you with the right information at the right time in order to respond to client demand so they are accurately informed is invaluable.”
It doesn’t surprise me that Kukla UK is such a successful company. It does freight forwarding very, very well.
Chris met Kukla UK MD Steve Wood when the Porter & Laker arrived at the Ferry Freighting offices in Dagenham in 1992 following the take-over by Tom Yusef’s Ferry Freighting. “Excuse the pun, but Steve and I bonded from the start and have worked well together ever since. I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone who’s worked harder or more determined to see a job through than Steve. It doesn’t surprise me that Kukla UK is such a successful company. It does freight forwarding very, very well. I think that’s the company ethos. It chimes completely with what my family always tried to deliver as freight forwarders to the wine trade at Porter & Laker – utterly professional and customer-focused, yet the approach is friendly and “can-do”.
As Ferry Freighting in 1992 became JF Hillbrand UK by 2008, during these years, Chris met and worked with Lynda Simms, now Kukla Commercial Director, Martin Jacobs, Kukla Customs Director and Chris Pryke, Kukla Operations Director. They established specialist UK forwarders in Kukla UK in 2017.
Following his role as CEO of the Drinks Industry Charity, The Benevolent (now The Drinks Trust), Chris was approached by Steve to “get the band back together” and rejoin his former colleagues in a part time consultancy role in 2019.
Chris said “The whole team were and have been a joy to work with and I owe them a huge debt of thanks for approaching me to help in developing Kukla UK’s burgeoning business in October 2019.“
Retiring as Business Development Manager at Kukla, continue with the newsletter and the London Wine Fair
“What started with 3 staff back in 2017 is now 45 staff, two offices with over 450 UK trade clients on the Kukla books. I am very proud to have played a very small part in contributing to this ongoing success story. While I am retiring from my role as Business Development Manager for Kukla, I will continue to have input in helping shape the monthly newsletter and, if they’ll let me be on hand to help and see everyone at the London Wine Fair. “
“I have made so many friends in this industry in the last 40 years and hope to stay in touch with as many people as possible. This will be via my continued involvement in arranging Wine Trade Sports Club golf matches, support to Drinks Trust events and with my Livery Company, the Worshipful Company of Distillers, of which I was very proud and honoured to have been Master in 2021/’22.“
“As with Hotel California – it’s possible to check out, but never leave! Thank You to everyone who has ever supported me, whether at Porter & Laker, Ltd. and Divisions and at Kukla, with your orders, trust and friendship. It has been truly valued.
I am checking out. But leaving this great trade? Never! I hope to see many of you before too long.
Wishing you continued success and a great Christmas!”
Chris Porter