Hilary Devey founded the freight company Pall-Ex before joining Dragon's Den.
Pall-Ex is a palletised-freight network that allows independent transport operators to move pallet loads through a shared distribution system. Devey launched the company in 1996, building on her experience in transport and logistics.
The network became a substantial British logistics business and made Devey widely known outside the television programme. She joined Dragon's Den in 2011, replacing James Caan, and appeared as an investor for several series.
Pall-Ex is not a parcel-delivery company in the narrow sense, and it is not the same as Eddie Stobart or Wincanton. Those names are also associated with British road freight, but they represent different companies and business models. Pall-Ex is particularly linked with pallet distribution and its network structure.