BIOMASS PRODUCTS
We are pleased to announce that we have established secure and reliable supply lines for a variety of Biomass products that are available either on a CIF basis, FIV ex covered store and/or delivered by road on a 'just in time' basis from a number of strategically positioned covered stores within the UK.

We can also offer a precise and homogeneous blending service, subject to Ofgem and EA approval, with any coal products that end users may wish to import via the Ports of Avonmouth or Portbury.

We have engaged our own employees in Europe to monitor quality and consolidate cargoes in the countries of origin and have successfully supplied a number of major power stations, both in the UK and on the Continent, with a variety of relevant biomass products. We would be pleased to provide competitive quotations to match your specific requirements.

For further details please visit our Biomass page (see Group Products section) or contact our Industrial Sales Team.

RETAIL DEPOT DEVELOPMENTS
Rudrum Holdings continues its policy of expanding its coal retail division. Corralls now in its 161st year as a coal merchant continues as market leader in its area through quality and service.

Corralls has further expanded into Norfolk and Suffolk with the acquisition of Talbot of Bungay and subsequently purchased Lowns of Norfolk and Warren of Bungay, who have been amalgamated into Corralls Bungay. Corralls are now one of the largest coal merchants in Norfolk and Suffolk.

STAFF CHANGES
2004 has seen the retirement of three stalwarts of the coal trade that finished their illustrious careers with the group, namely Mr Andrew Gould, National Domestic Wholesale Manager based in our head office in Bristol and Mr Peter Clemo our long-time serving sales representative for Cornwall. In our accounts department we saw the retirement of Jim Hough who had previously been a wholesale sales assistant before moving to our accounts department. Jim achieved the distinction of serving 54 continuous years in the coal trade, a record unequalled to our knowledge. We thank them for their many years of loyal service and wish them well in their retirement.

Newcomers include Mr George Knox who has joined the administration department of Bennett Fergusson Coal at Chesterfield who was the former manage of Gateway Fuels Ltd.

CORPORATE RESTRUCTURING
As the Rudrum Holdings continues to grow the directors have decided to restructure the Group, which has involved the creation of several new subsidiary companies that will perform various elements of the Group’s business that would previously have been conducted through E.H.Bennett & Co.Ltd. This will provide a new and better defined corporate identity for our trading divisions for the benefit of the Group’s customers and suppliers.

All of the Group’s solid fuel sales to the industrial and electricity generation markets will now be conducted through the new subsidiary company, CMR (Industrial) Ltd (see our Industrial Fuels Sales page within the Coal Trading Division section).

All domestic grade solid fuel will be sold to direct account holders by either Western Anthracite Ltd or CMR (Retail) Ltd, depending on which particular product is required.

Domestic grade solid fuel sold to the coal merchant market will continue to be made available through subsidiary company Evans & Reid (Solid Fuels Distribution) Ltd as at present.

All of the Group's own retail depot operations will now be grouped under our new subsidiary company, CMR (Retail) Limited, providing a uniform identity for all of the Group’s retail customers.

A new subsidiary, CMR (Leisure) Limited has been formed to conduct the Group’s investment programme in the hotel and leisure industry. This is a new division for Rudrum Holdings and more news of this division will be made available shortly.

E.H.Bennett & Company Limited remains the main coal and biomass trading and shipping company.

All subsidiaries are now directly owned by our new holding company Rudrum (Holdings) Limited.