Over a Century of Yorkshire Heritage, Innovation, and Progress

 Founded in 1916 by the Turner family, our story began in the heart of Yorkshire with the delivery of coal by horse, barge, and rail. At that time, J. Wilby was one of four companies serving the region’s thriving coal industry, operating depots in Pontefract, York, Hull, and Dewsbury.

As the decades passed and the nation’s industries evolved, so did J. Wilby. By the early 1960s, as the coal mining sector began to falter, Keith Shaw, following in his late father’s footsteps, became Depot Manager at the young age of 22. Keith soon recognised the need to diversify in order to secure the company’s future. His foresight led the business further into road haulage, servicing the construction sector — a move that would prove both bold and visionary. By the end of the 20th century, as the coalfields across Yorkshire closed, that decision ensured the business continued to grow and thrive.

In 1976, the Turner family decided to wind down their coal transportation group. Due to their longstanding trust in Keith, they offered him and colleague John Bates the opportunity to purchase J. Wilby from the group.

Building on its proud coal roots, Keith and John developed a strong foundation in construction logistics — delivering steel, timber, and concrete to sites across the region while continuing local coal deliveries. With a growing fleet and ample land, they diversified further during the 1980s, establishing James Wilby Builders’ Merchants at the company’s ten-acre site in Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire.

The business thrived for decades, becoming a trusted local name in the construction supply industry. In 2017, James Wilby Builders’ Merchants was sold to Huws Gray, one of the UK’s largest independent builders’ merchants, in a multi-million-pound deal. This milestone marked the end of an era and allowed the business to focus entirely on logistics and haulage operations.

As the new millennium began and pallet networks reshaped the haulage industry, Keith once again led with innovation. Recognising the changing logistics landscape, J. Wilby became a founding member of a leading pallet network — strengthening the company’s national reach and operational efficiency.

In February 2025, the company faced the sudden and sad loss of Keith Shaw, whose leadership and vision shaped the business for nearly five decades.

Following Keith’s passing, there was significant interest from external parties looking to acquire both the business and its land. However, Sammy and Natalie, who had already proposed a management buyout in 2024, remained committed to keeping the company’s legacy alive through its people. Working closely with the Board, favourable terms were agreed to make the management buyout viable — ensuring the business transitioned into trusted hands for the next generation.

The management buyout successfully completed in October 2025, marking a new chapter for all parties.

The family continues to own the Heckmondwike headquarters — a site that includes extensive warehousing, driver facilities, training rooms, office space, and an on-site workshop.

During the transition, Sammy and Natalie turned their focus to Geo Bennett & Sons, proudly relaunching it as Wilby International — a name that honours the family’s transport legacy while embracing a new era of innovation, technology, and sustainable logistics.

Now operating from a new depot in Harrogate, North Yorkshire, Wilby International carries forward more than a century of Yorkshire transport heritage into a modern, forward-thinking logistics business.

In late 2025, Wilby International joined the Palletways Network, expanding its reach across the UK and Europe — delivering a trusted, technology-driven logistics service built on integrity, reliability, and the enduring Wilby family values.