Logistics tech platform YardOps has secured nearly £500k in investment after winning its first contract with a leading UK supermarket.
Valued at £2.5m, YardOps will use the funding from early-stage venture capital firm Haatch and angel investment platform York Angels to grow its customer base in the UK and continental Europe.
Where most yard operations software is designed for the US market, where sites are typically larger, YardOps has been built over the past six years by working with “one of the UK’s largest food and drink companies” across four logistics hubs.
Having now secured a contract to handle operations across a major supermarket’s five logistics sites, YardOps has its eyes on growth at home and across the Channel.
“Despite a world-leading fmcg industry, so many UK companies are still using manual processes for their yard logistics,” said co-founder Jim Wardlaw.
He cited supply chain tech firm FourKites research that estimated 70% of UK yards still run on spreadsheets, radios and a patchwork of tools.
“We recognised the vast upside opportunity in terms of efficiency and speed of creating bespoke solutions for these operations. With the majority of operators relying on traditional processes, there’s a very significant addressable market.”
YardOps’ modular tech can be used to integrate booking, gatehouse, shunter co-ordination, dock management, driver comms and trailer maintenance under a single platform.
The company has claimed the platform offers customers shorter vehicle pick-up turnaround times, meaning a reduction in leased vehicles, better health and safety, and better management of arrivals and departures through live traffic data.
Alongside boosting the startup’s sales and marketing efforts, the funding will be used to strengthen its senior team and further product development.
In March 2026 the company appointed former Wincanton commercial director Martin Dougherty to work part-time overseeing its commercial team.
Haatch pre-seed associate Marwa Ebrahim said the VC firm had been “hugely impressed” with the YardOps team.
“This is a compelling solution to the inefficiencies present in logistics operations across the UK and there’s a large addressable market to target with the software. With the help of our funding and guidance, we’re confident YardOps can scale its product and build a significant customer base here and across Europe.”
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