DRL Ltd, Aspinall Close, Middlebrook

ONLINE white goods company DRLwhich has a multi-million pound turnover was set up following a bet in a pub.

The retailer has grown from that humble begining to now employing around 240 people at its head office site in Horwich.

DRL Limited was founded in May 2000 by white goods retailer John Roberts and web designer Alan Latchford.

Mr Latchford bet his friend he wouldn’t do anything about his idea but Mr Roberts proved him wrong by coming up with a business plan and the pair went into business.

Five years later Mr Latchford had to leave the business for health reasons, leaving Mr Roberts to take DRL from strength to strength single-handedly.

After spending four years proving the business model with two successful kitchen appliance websites, he took the next big leap and began operating white label websites for other major retailers.

In 2004, Sainsbury’s became DRL’s first client, followed over the next six years by Boots, Marks & Spencer, Next, Debenhams, House of Fraser, Screwfix, Empire Direct, Argos and B&Q.

Now DRL provides a full solution from white label websites to supply and distribution.

In 2009 DRL bought out Expert Logistics so it could have its own dedicated delivery fleet.

Mr Roberts said: “2010 marks the 10th anniversary of DRL Limited, so to be shortlisted for Business of the Year this year is particularly poignant for us.

“Re-investing in the local community has always been very important to DRL, which is why we are proud to be recognised in the Bolton and Bury Business Awards.

“We also believe in supporting the local economy be providing jobs locally; all our call centre operations continue to run out of our Bolton-based offices, with Expert Logistics operating out of their Radcliffe-based head office.”