Hilary Devey founded the freight network Pall-Ex before appearing on Dragons' Den.
Pall-Ex is a palletised freight network, meaning it coordinates the movement of palletised goods through a network of transport operators. Devey founded the company in 1996, building a business around collaboration between hauliers and the efficient distribution of freight.
The company became a defining part of Devey's business biography and explains why logistics and supply-chain questions were central to her investment perspective. Her experience differed from that of Dragons whose careers were rooted mainly in retail, property, fashion, or technology.
Devey later joined Dragons' Den in series 9, replacing James Caan. This fact is distinct from the question of which Dragon founded Bannatyne Group: that answer is Duncan Bannatyne. Pall-Ex and Bannatyne Group are separate companies founded by different investors, a common source of confusion when recalling the panel's business backgrounds.