YardOps raises early-stage funding at £2.5m valuation to modernise UK yard logistics

YardOps, a Hull-based company whose software helps fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) firms run their UK logistics hubs, has secured early-stage funding from venture capital firm Haatch and angel investors, in a round valuing it at £2.5m.

YardOps builds yard operations software that makes logistics hubs more efficient. It has signed a contract with a supermarket group and previously supplied its tech to one of the UK's largest food and drink companies, across four logistics hubs.

Haatch invested via its SEIS Fund and a British Business Bank-backed fund, alongside angel investment platform York Angels.

The funding will go toward product development, sales and marketing, and building out the senior team. YardOps recently appointed Martin Dougherty, formerly of Wincanton and DHL, as commercial director.

The company estimates 70% of UK yards still run on spreadsheets, radios and patchwork tools. "Despite a world-leading FMCG industry, so many UK companies are still using manual processes for their yard logistics," said co-founder Jim Wardlaw.

Investors are betting that overlooked corners of the supply chain — like yard management — hold a large addressable market still ripe for automation. "This is a compelling solution to the inefficiencies present in logistics operations across the UK," said Marwa Ebrahim, associate at Haatch.