Expanding Bradford-based logistics and distribution group Advanced Supply Chain achieved its best ever year of trading in 2012.

The company defied the gloomy economic climate and is ahead of its target of reaching a £100 million turnover by 2017.

Advanced Supply Chain, based at the Euroway trading estate, which employs more than 500 people locally, grew turnover by 59.3 per cent last year compared with 2011 as sales climbed to £36.5 million.

The growth was boosted after it won contracts with a string of clients including Matalan, Makro and Go Outdoors.

The results cap the most successful 12 months in the company’s 15-year history and was achieved as it plans to create 1,500 new jobs and invest more than £20 million in its operations to reach its goal.

Chief executive Mike Danby said: “Against a decidedly gloomy economic backdrop, we really delivered the goods in 2012 and smashed our original revenue target by £1.5 million.

“The groundwork for this growth has been laid down by the development of bespoke IT systems and controls, which deliver cost savings and improved operational accuracy for our customers.

“However, it is our commitment to forging international distribution links combined with the professionalism of our staff, which has enabled us to deliver these exceptional results.”

During 2012 Advanced Supply Chain saw its workforce grow by 17 per cent. The firm created 75 new jobs by opening two large new distribution centres in Corby, Northamptonshire and at Birstall. It now employs a total of 538 staff and plans to create another 140 jobs this year.

Mr Danby said: “By improving our service and keeping costs down for our customers we know we can continue to deliver growth. We’ve now set ourselves a target of £45 million turnover in 2013 and I have every confidence we’ll succeed.”

Advanced Supply Chain was founded as a garment processing and rectification company in Hebden Bridge in 1997 when it employed ten staff. Now the company operates across six sites with one million sq ft of operational space and a fleet of 200 trailers.

Next year the firm will begin freight-forwarding to a new 1.2 million sq ft Pinhu Logistics Centre in Shenzhen, South China, as part of its partnership with China’s second-largest logistics provider Sinotrans.

Mr Danby said the move could open up the country to Yorkshire businesses eyeing expansion into the world’s fastest-growing economy and also help importers.