JCS Livestock claimed the air freight forwarder award at BIFA’s 2025 event for safely transporting critically endangered gorillas
JCS Livestock was the winner of the Air Freight Forwarder Award at the British International Freight Association’s (BIFA) 2025 Freight Service Awards.
The company faced tough competition in the category, with Atlantic Pacific Global Logistics, KLN Freight and Pro-Logist also on the shortlist.
In the end, JCS Livestock won the award after overcoming regulatory barriers, engineering bespoke crates, and coordinating a multi-leg transport route under strict welfare standards – all to ensure the safe transportation of critically endangered gorillas.
Winning the award for the transport of endangered gorillas was apt given the host of this year’s event was Steve Backshall, famous for his wildlife TV programmes such as Deadly 60.
During the event at The Brewery in London, Backshall announced nine winning companies and two outstanding individuals across 11 award categories.
Other winners from the night include Unsworth, which scooped the Staff Development Award thanks to its focus on employee growth and career progression through their continued investment in training and development.
The other finalists in the category include Ital Logistics, Metro, Neon Freight and Pro Carrier.
The four finalists in the Sustainable Logistics & The Environment Award were Baxter Freight, Carousel Logistics, DFDS and Freight Systems Express. The award was won by Freight Systems Express with judges impressed with their fast-paced efforts towards sustainable logistics.
Deugro, DFDS, DHL Global Forwarding and Killick Martin & Company were finalists in the Project Forwarding Award, with DFDS declared the winner because of the company’s partnership approach to a challenge, leaning on local knowledge and bespoke project expertise.
The Customs Compliance Services Award finalists were ALS Customs Services, EV Cargo, Samphire Customs, Seafast Logistics and Customs Support Group.
ALS Customs Services won the award as judges were impressed by the company’s industry leadership; engaging with both HMRC and the EU Commission to pilot new customs processes.
The Extra Mile Award finalists were Carousel Logistics, Efret, JCS Livestock, Mercury Freight and UPS Supply Chain Solutions. The winner was Carousel Logistics after designing solutions that make the customers’ supply chain more efficient.
The Value-Added Services Award finalists were Elite Digital Logistics, HSM Global, IFE Global Group and Uniserve Group. The winner was IFE Global Group after its case study highlighted the exceptional value added through its highly intricate delivery service for a leading luxury travel provider.
The Sea Freight Forwarder Award was won by Denholm Good Logistics with KLN Freight and Röhlig Logistics also shortlisted. The judges were impressed by Denholm’s innovative, flexible, and scalable approach to a customer’s rapid growth.
The four finalists in the European Logistics Forwarder Award were Brunel European Limited, JPM Future, Simpex Express Limited, and Transportify. Simpex won the award after demonstrating an impressive service delivery in the wake of Brexit leading to customer satisfaction.
