It was great to welcome Witham MP Priti Patel back to Commodity Centre in Great Braxted, two years after her previous visit. The visit was an opportunity to show her how the business has developed, share our plans for the future and introduce her to some of the people who help make it all happen.
During the visit, Priti met with our CEO Alec Gunn and COO Matthew Bibb to hear about the progress made since 2024, including investment in our facilities, operational developments and plans for further growth.
She also spent time meeting some of our younger colleagues to hear about their experiences working for the company and the opportunities we provide for professional development, skills training and career progression.
The discussions also covered the wider logistics and warehousing sector, the challenges of operating in international markets and the importance of investment in infrastructure and skills to support businesses and the communities in which they operate.
Speaking following the visit, Priti said:
It is always encouraging to see local businesses continuing to grow, invest and create opportunities for people in our area. Commodity Centre is an excellent example of a successful business with an international reach, while remaining firmly rooted in our local community for 35 years. Businesses like Commodity Centre make an important contribution to our local economy, providing skilled jobs, developing talent and supporting wider economic growth. I was particularly pleased to meet employees taking part in the Leadership Development Programme and hear about the opportunities the company is creating for the next generation. I look forward to seeing the business continue to go from strength to strength in the years ahead.
Alec commented:
It was a real pleasure to welcome Priti back to Commodity Centre and bring her up to date with the progress we have made since her last visit. I was particularly impressed by how quickly she grasped the nature and scale of our operations, the challenges we face and our ambitions for the future. She showed genuine interest in understanding our business and was keen to explore how she might be able to support us where possible. My thanks to Priti and her colleagues, Theo and Sophie, for taking the time to visit and for such a constructive and engaging discussion.
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