Partner Portals Search Toggle main menu visibility OUR HISTORY TRANSFORMING SUPPLY CHAINS FOR MORE THAN 60 YEARS. The history of Gist Limited Gist has been transforming supply chains for more than half a century. The timeline below charts some key events that shaped the company that Gist has become today. 1961 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. Today Today, Gist continues to deliver value beyond managing warehouse and transport operations; we develop tailored and flexible supply chains for a number of high-profile customers, including Tesco, Waitrose, Bakkavor, Starbucks, and, some 86 years later, Marks & Spencer. WHAT WE DO Contract Logistics Temperature Controlled Logistics Food Service Global Freight Management International LEGAL Privacy Notices Website Terms & Cookies Corporate Governance Gist Contract Terms and Conditions European Terms and Conditions Gender Pay Gap Modern Slavery CONTACT Contact Form A member of The Linde Group Copyright 2021 Gist Ltd