1932

A Humble Beginning

Thomas Gooderham, looking to diversify the family farming business, bought his first lorry and began carting milk churns between local farms and the creamery in Stowmarket under contract from the Milk Marketing Board.

1945

Standing for Independence

In 1945, Tom was one of the earliest members of the Road Haulage Association, a trade organisation set up in opposition to the post-war government’s plan to nationalise the transport industry.

1953

Sourcing New Equipment

The lorry went on to give Grandfather Tom 20 years of reliable service including a time as a troop carrier for the Home Guard during WWII until finally being replaced in 1953. The value of service along with the long hours and hard work associated with farming carried over into the cartage business.

1959

Belonging and Direction

The business passed to James Downie, Tom’s son-in-law, in 1959 and grew rapidly in the 1960s and 1970s to include livestock, container transport, bulk haulage and distribution amongst its services.  By the time Edward Downie joined the company as the third generation of the family to work in the business, the fleet had grown to 30 vehicles and firmly established the sense of belonging and direction alongside service as the key values at the heart of the enterprise.

2005

Picking up the Pace

The pace of development at the company picked up again during the 2000s which has seen the business move into more specialised contract distribution, including supermarket store replenishment, horticultural trolley distribution, port-centric warehousing and the addition of pallet networks. In 2005 Edward was joined by his brother, Charles, adding to the depth and experience of the leadership team.

2021

A New Home at Lawn Farm, Woolpit

In 2021, the company turned a significant page in its storybook with a move to a purpose-built facility at Lawn Farm in Woolpit. Designed around modern operations, the new site gave the business room to stretch, streamline and scale. With improved infrastructure, smarter layouts and greater capacity, the move didn’t just house the next chapter, it helped power it, positioning the company to meet growing demand with the precision of a finely tuned engine and the confidence of a team built for the long haul.

2024

From Transport to Logistics – a New Identity.

In 2024, the company refreshed its identity, evolving from Bacton Transport to Bacton Logistics to better mirror the breadth of what it had become. The new name marked more than a coat of paint; it signalled a shift from moving goods to orchestrating them. With a growing portfolio spanning warehousing, distribution and end-to-end supply chain solutions, the rebrand captured a business that had widened its lens and sharpened its focus. It was a confident stride forward, aligning the company’s name with its ambition and its ability to navigate the increasingly intricate pathways of modern logistics.

2025

New Warehouse at Port One Logistics Park.

The company reached another landmark in 2025 with the opening of a purpose-built warehouse at Port One Logistics Park, a move that widened both its footprint and its possibilities. The new facility added a powerful extra layer of capacity, giving the business greater flexibility to diversify its operations and refine the way it serves partners and clients. More than just extra space, it represents a platform for momentum, a carefully engineered launchpad from which the company can continue to expand, innovate and shape its long-term future in the ever-evolving world of logistics.