February 2025 officially marks our 40th year in business! And we couldn’t be more thrilled to share this milestone with our clients, partners, and of course, our team.
While Grace Overseas has gone from strength to strength over the years, evolving into the global business it is today, we remain a proudly family-owned and operated company, supported by our dedicated team.
Let’s take a look at some key highlights from across the years…
1985
Founded by Peter and Veronica Cooney, and named in honour of Peter’s mother, Grace Overseas was built on their four decades of freight industry experience. And with a strong network of contacts across Manchester and Salford, we were on the road to success from the start.
1992
An accreditation milestone, we achieved the prestigious BS5750 certification for our quality systems, becoming one of the first freight forwarding companies to do so.
1992 also saw us open our first large warehouse, paving the way for what will be known as GO Logistics & Storage.
1994
Our Managing Director, Sarah Taylor officially began her career in the warehouse at Grace Overseas. From there, she rose through the business, learning the ropes along the way.
2001
Sarah moved from the warehouse to the office team, contributing to the business’s management and strategic growth by developing new concepts and implementing change as she went.
2014
Sarah Taylor succeeded Peter Cooney as Managing Director, marking the beginning of a new chapter for our family business. Under Sarah’s leadership, we’ve since achieved a number of accreditations, including AEOC, BRC, BONDED and ISO9001-1400-4500.
2017
In support of our growth strategy, we opened a second premises in Crawley, West Sussex. And, back in Manchester, operations were moved to a larger facility, greatly expanding our service offering.
Our longstanding and much valued team member, Mandy Bury also marked 30 years with us.
2018
Sarah’s husband, Brian Taylor joined the business as Commercial Manager, reinforcing the company’s commitment to family values. Brian continues to look after the wellbeing of the warehouse team and ensures the smooth running of operations.
2021
Acquiring a 40,000 sq. ft. warehouse in Manchester facilitated the launch of GO Logistics and Storage, our 3PL warehousing and fulfilment service.
2024
One of our most successful years to date! Grace Overseas exhibited at CHEMUK and we proudly retained our ISO 9001, 14001, and 45001 certifications, reinforcing the company’s commitment to quality and safety.
Plus, Sarah Taylor celebrated 30 years in the business and was officially welcomed onto the Chemical Business Association Council.
2024 also saw some notable award wins for Grace Overseas:
> Haulage, Logistics & Transport winner at the North West Family Business Awards
> Winner of the Made a Difference Award, Lifetime Achievement Award and Logistic Services Member of the Year at the CBA’s ‘Chemmies’
> Named Best Global Freight Forwarding Solutions Company 2024 at the SME News Business Elite Awards
2025 and beyond
This year marks a major milestone for Grace Overseas as we celebrate 40 years in business, and the celebrations have already begun with a recent team trip to Dublin.
As always, our commitment extends beyond our incredible Grace Overseas family. We’re proud to continue supporting our wider communities through charity fundraising, events, and our ongoing sponsorship of the Ramsbottom Cricket Club Academy. Plus, we’re thrilled to announce a brand new look and website launching later this year, in addition to a host of industry events, so keep an eye out for more news coming soon!
Thank you to everyone who has contributed to the huge success of Grace Overseas, and we look forward to many more exciting years to come.
