Online retailer Zavvi.com and Europe’s leading sports nutrition brand MyProtein are among the latest backers of the initiative. Thyssenkrupp, a diversified industrial group, operating across 80 countries in elevator technology, steel and industrial solutions, has also signed up.

The initiative was first launched in 2015, with Peel Ports calling for importers and exporters whose goods begin or end their journey in the north of the UK to switch delivery of ocean freight from south-east ports to the centrally-located Port of Liverpool. Shippers of goods that start or end their journey in the north can save UK plc from £350-£400m annually. The initiative aims to cut freight mileage by 200 million miles by 2020.

Diageo, JCB, B&M, Jaguar Land Rover, Matalan, Bentley and Typhoo were among the first to respond to the Cargo200 initiative, encouraging the UK freight and logistics industry to deliver a fundamental shift in supply chain and services routes.

Peel Ports’ Group Commercial Director, Patrick Walters said: “With 150 signatories we are now at an advanced stage of our campaign to create a sustainable shift in the UK logistics sector, with a view to saving 200 million haulage miles across the UK. Our supporters come from a wide variety of retail, manufacturing, technology sectors but what unites them all is a clear and substantial demand to save cost, congestion and carbon emissions by shipping closer to their markets.

“With the opening of the £400m Liverpool2 container terminal late last year, for the first time we can offer the capabilities and the capacity to match the evident demand from businesses in our hinterland. The campaign is giving extra confidence to shipping lines as they weigh up the benefits of introducing greater services via the Port of Liverpool.”

One of the new supporters is Smylie Ltd. Its Managing Director, Chris Smylie, said: “As a passionate, family-run British food export business from the north west, shipping via Liverpool is critical to our business success. We can reduce our land freight mileage and minimise our carbon footprint by shipping via Liverpool, allowing us to supply supermarkets, distributors and food service companies both domestically and abroad. Importantly, we’re also able to minimise our environmental impact and improve resilience across our entire UK supply chain by avoiding the uncertainty and delays associated with longer road or rail journeys.”