Our History

1961

Transport company GL Baker bought its own premises in Oare Road, Faversham – where Gist still operates from today – for £2,500. GL Baker established a depot with a warehouse and maintenance bay and took on extra business from M&S to deliver canned goods, as well as fruit.

1969

Interested by GL Baker’s use of liquid nitrogen in chilled containers, BOC acquires the company and it becomes known as BOC Transhield.

1971

BOC Transhield consists of 1,100 employees and operates from five strategically-located depots in Barnsley, Bristol, Cumbernauld, Faversham and Kirkby.
A network was born.

1978

The company opens up a new site in Hemel Hempstead.

1980s

The company continues to grow, with the addition of sites in Crewe in 1981 and Thatcham in 1986.
The company commences six-day deliveries to M&S and evening deliveries to stores.

1986

Gist commences work with M&S to distribute clothing and general merchandise under the banner of BOC Storeshield.

1991

BOC Transhield merges with BOC Storeshield to become BOC Distribution Services.

1995

European textiles contract moves to Hemel’s International site.

1996

Work begins in the Czech Republic with Ahold, one of the world’s leading retail groups.

2001

BOC Distribution Services relaunches as Gist Limited.
The complete rebrand came with new livery, uniforms, and even a move to a new head office in Chineham.

2003

Gist wins new business with Intergreen to transport horticultural products between Holland and the UK.

2005

Gist acquires Van Dongen Holdings BV – a Dutch transport company.

2006

The Linde Group, which consists of Linde and BOC, acquires Gist.

2009

Gist signs a monumental contract with M&S, securing all foods operations including frozen foods and extending into Ireland.
This saw the opening of two more Gist sites, with Bedworth taking the frozen stock, and Clonshaugh opening for Irish stores.

2011

Gist’s Child Road Safety programme is launched, with the aim of becoming Gist’s key Corporate Social Responsibility scheme.

2012

Gist’s Dutch companies are merged and moved into a site in Bleiswijk.

2015

Gist Auburn represents Gist’s first site in the USA. The Seattle-based site services Starbucks.

2016

Major investments to the network include new sites opening in Enfield and France, site
extensions in Spalding and Clonshaugh and a complete reconfiguration of Hemel Hempstead.

2017

Sites open in Chesterfield and Motherwell to boost Temperature Controlled Logistics business.

2022

In 2022, M&S announced it was to acquire Gist , with the full ownership of Gist Ltd and Gist Distribution Limited (Ireland) transferring from Linde to M&S. The transaction represented a natural next step in the evolution of the unique and long-standing partnership between two great businesses.

Today, Gist stands proud as part of the M&S family, as we continue to deliver value industry leading logistics and supply chain transformation for the benefit of Marks & Spencer.