The Chorley-based business has seen its vehicle fleet, customer base, revenues, head count and assembly facility all grow during the year.

The company said that it had grown its fleet by 49.7% to over 500 vehicles in just 12 months, aided by an active UK highways sector.

Blakedale has also seen revenues rise by 50% in line with fleet and customer growth. Meanwhile the overall headcount has grown to 40 colleagues with technician numbers doubling to cope with the growth in Impact Protection Vehicle (IPV) assembly and repairs.

The company has taken on an additional industrial unit next to its current 20,000 square foot facility in Matrix Park, Chorley where it is establishing a new parts office, storage, and HGV servicing area to support its IPV assembly line and repair businesses. The unit has also freed up more space to grow its road marker post business.

Managing director Jon Taylor, who joined the company in July last year, has also overseen a fleet expansion and reconfiguration which has seen the company increase its offering to five different vehicle types based on customer needs.

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These include traffic management safety cars, electric car derived vans, crew vans, 3.5-tonne Light Truck Mounted Attenuator (LTMA) urban crash cushion vehicles and 3.5 and 7.2-tonne traffic management vehicles.

Taylor said: "We have seen our trading customer base rise 40% by rolling out our services to Northgate’s existing fleet customers and gaining new accounts.

"We have expanded our fleet accordingly and have a strong order bank of several hundred new vehicles. The fleet expansion has led to a number of customers trialing cars, vans and trucks for the very first time.

He added: "It has been a positive 12 months. We have invested in and delivered growth across all areas of the business while retaining Blakedale’s excellent reputation in the traffic management sector.

“We have also bolstered our team with the appointment of Tony Richards as our new head of fleet operations who has joined operations director Gareth Brown and sales director Dave Staiano in the leadership team. The business is well set to capitalise on the continued growth of the highways and traffic management sectors,” Taylor said.

The post Blakedale sees strong growth following Northgate acquisition appeared first on Motor Transport.

Sitra Group was launched in 1962. It employs approximately 1,150 people across 11 countries including the UK and operates a fleet of 700 owned trucks and over 2,000 trailers and containers, including liquid and powder food tankers.

The group, which last year reported a turnover of €165m, is largely owned by the Saelens family, with investment company Creafund holding the balance of shares since 2021.

The purchase of Abbey Logistics Group, which boasts an annual turnover of £75m, sees Sitra Group add nearly 600 staff and a fleet of 325 trucks and 550 trailers to its operations. Sitra Group has pledged that Abbey will continue to operate under its own name and livery. An Abbey Logistics spokesperson told MT that the company has no plans to make any staff redundant or to close any depots.

Abbey has been majority owned by private equity firm NorthEdge Capital since 2016, following a management buyout (MBO), led by Steve Granite, former chief executive and current chairman, who is to take on an advisory role at the company, following the acquisition.

Granite said: "Since our MBO we have successfully transformed Abbey from a £45m turnover family business to a £75m market leader and refocused the business on its core strengths as a specialist tanker operator in the UK.

"We are proud of how the business has grown, not just in revenue but in market share and maturity, to become the UK’s leading food tanker operator.

"With the unwavering support of NorthEdge and a great working relationship between the board and the investors, the business is now in great shape, and I am delighted to see it end up in the ownership of another family-owned business in Sitra Group who will undoubtedly develop the business and it’s people even further."

He added: "I would also like to say a huge thank you and well done to the employees of Abbey who have worked tirelessly to make Abbey the market leader it is today and I’m confident that being part of the Sitra Group will have a positive impact on our people and loyal customers.”

David Patten, Abbey Logistics Group MD, also welcomed the deal. He said: “I have worked with Sitra as a supplier during my time as a customer in Europe and I hold the company and its people in high regard.

"It is an exciting time in Abbey’s history to once again be part of a family-owned business and I am over the moon to be joining the Sitra team. This is great news for our employees and customers.”

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Jon Pickering, Northedge partner and chief investment officer, said: “We are proud to see Abbey joining forces with Sitra, another market-leading business with a strong commercial and cultural fit.

"Throughout our partnership, management have worked tirelessly to build a high-quality leadership team, retain and grow a blue-chip customer base, continuously improve operational efficiencies and develop a market-leading approach to talent attraction and retention to support scale.

"Abbey is now well positioned for future growth as part of Sitra, continuing to deliver world-class service to its customers, and we wish the whole team the best of luck in their next chapter.”

David Saelens, Sitra Group chief executive, said: “Sitra Group is delighted to announce the acquisition of Abbey Logistics Group. It is a milestone in Sitra’s history to acquire a renowned, well-established company like Abbey.

"Together with our partner Creafund we have been working almost a year on this deal and to now welcome the whole Abbey family to the Sitra group feels like the cherry on the cake.

"It was a great pleasure to work closely with Steve, Dave and Matthew who are truly professionals as well as the other members of the Abbey management. We have not only aquired a great company but we also welcome some of the best individuals in our industry.

"We are very much looking forward to welcoming and introducing every Abbey member in our organisation. Abbey will continue to operate under its own name and colours and Sitra is not intending to change whatsoever to the well-working organisation that Abbey is today.

"Since Creafund’s entry in Sitra Group, the size of the company has more than doubled and we are getting close to €300m turnover with over 2,000 employees, on course to our ambition which is to reach the €500 million milestone by 2026. Please allow me to thank everybody who was involved in making this deal happen “

Kenneth Depuydt, partner of Creafund added “We are extremely pleased to accelerate the strategic growth plan of Sitra by adding Abbey to our ambitious Group. We truly value the professionalism, the entrepreneurship, the reputation and all stakeholders, including all employees of Abbey tremendously.

"We hence warmly welcome Abbey as part of our Group and look forward to further consolidating the food logistics market together."

Abbey was advised by KPMG and DWF and Sitra was advised by EY.

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The group’s recently published annual results to 31 December 2022, have seen it break through the £200m turnover barrier to deliver £206m in revenue, up 11.7% up on the previous year - an increase of £21m.

Gross profit also rose in the period by 17.4% to £52.2m, up from £44.4m in 2021, whilst operating profit, before exceptionals, rose strongly from £3m to 13.1m, just short of a £10m increase on 2021. Discounting exceptionals, the group’s operating profit rose by 12%.

However, Kinaxia is predicting a less impressive performance in 2023, as a result of the economic challenges brought on by soaring  inflation, fuel price increases and the ongoing war in the Ukraine, along with its decision to stick with its commitment to consolidate its business during the year.

Macclesfield-based Kinaxia employs more than 1,820 full time staff nationwide and operates a fleet of 950 vehicles, transporting goods for the retail, leisure, food and drink and manufacturing sectors.

The group also has 2.3 million sq ft of warehouse facilities nationwide, offering contract packing, e-fulfilment, returns management, storage services and a complete distribution service.

Since launching in 2012, Kinaxia has acquired Bay Freight, William Kirk, NC Cammack & Sons, Foulger Transport, Lambert Brothers Haulage, Panic Transport (Contracts), AJ Maiden & Son, Mark Thompson Transport, BC Transport 2017 - which is now dormant - AKW Global Logistics Group, Fresh Freight Group and David Hathaway Transport.

Last month it added the trade and assets of KNP Logistics Group subsidiary Nelson Distribution after KNP, which includes Knights of Old and Steve Porter Transport, filed for administration.

Speaking to MT Ben Warrillow (pictured right), Kinaxia group finance director, said: “We are very pleased with the results, given the challenging conditions and some of the pressures we faced – cost inflation, fuel prices and the factors flowing from the war in Ukraine.”

He added: “Considering we were expecting challenging year, the numbers were good and we are very pleased with the underlying trading activity across all sectors – it was a good strong year.”

However chief executive Simon Hobbs (pictured left) warned that Kinaxia’s 2023 financial  results will be tempered by a year that has continued to be economically challenging - and by the group’s determination to continue to consolidate the business.

Speaking to MT, he said: “We saw the headwinds coming in November 2022. The peak period was not as strong as it would normally be, so we knew 2023 was going to be a tough year and we saw volumes fall, particularly in distribution, although Primary continued to perform well.”

So far, Kinaxia’s integration process has seen the creation of three divisions – Distribution, Primary and Logistics & Fulfilment – and the introduction of standardised operational processes across the group, including an integrated transport management system and a unified warehouse management system.

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Hobbs said the board had debated at one point on whether to halt the integration process, in the face of such an economically challenging environment, but held firm, recognising that the process was vital to ensuring further growth

“Integrating the business was a key objective and we have everything in place now to start the next phase of our growth in 2024,” Hobbs added.

As part of integrating its subsidiaries, the group has also emblazoned its fleet with a new Kinaxia Logistics livery.

Hobbs said: “We are very proud of the family heritage and we want to keep that. Every local business will still retain their original family name above the windscreen in their original font because we respect that legacy - but this also recognises it is time to move on and become a united Kinaxia Logistics.”

The group has also strengthened its management team with a number of key appointments including Richard Smith who joined Kinaxia as MD of the group’s Primary sector business. Smith joined from DHL Supply Chain, where he was operations director for its Jaguar Land Rover account.

Kinaxia is also focusing on building a sustainable fleet, with the creation of an environmental management team. It is currently test driving Tevva’s 7.5-tonne battery-electric truck and has ordered 20 new Iveco CNG powered trucks to add to its fleet of vehicles.

Looking to 2024, Hobbs said: “We see next year as building on the platforms and systems we have put in place and focusing on the environmental part of our business, as well as growing our revenue and annual profit and targeting customers where we think our family of families approach will benefit them.”

“The hard yards are nearly all done and so from 2024 onwards, we'll be looking at how we grow the business on the base that we've created.

“I think it's  a credit to the team because 2023 was tough and we could easily have sat back and said no, let's protect trading and delay things, but we've cracked on with the important strategy of integrating the business to make sure the business is sustainable and right for the long term.”

Kinaxia’s 13 subsidiaries delivered a mixed set of annual results in 2022, reflecting the varying fortunes of the sectors in which they operate.

Kinaxia subsidiary results

All 13 Kinaxia companies saw turnover rise, including Foulger, which saw revenues leap to £19.6m (2021: £15.5m), David Hathaway, which posted revenue rising from £16.8m to £18.9m, and Fresh Freight which delivered revenues of £22.7m, up from £19m in 2021. Lambert also boosted revenues in the year to £12.2m, up from £10.8m in 2021, with pre-tax profit rising from a loss of £1.3m in 2021 to a profit of £221,723.

However pre-tax profits were down for seven of Kinaxia’s subsidiaries, including David Hathaway, which reported a pre-tax profit of £201,983, down from £382,916 in 2021; Maiden and Sons, which saw a pre-tax profit of £155,902, down from £451,313 the previous year; Mark Thompson, which delivered a drop in pre-tax profit to £44,325 (2021: £763,167); and Fresh Freight which posted a pre-tax profit of £134,586 (2021: £162,112).

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The purchase will see the operations of both companies gradually integrated with Rotom. Owners Jim Hardisty, Chris Adam and Denzil Davies will continue to lead both companies and support further business development within the Rotom Group.

Announcing the acquisition, the group said the deal guarantees the next stage of growth for goplasticpallets.com and All Pallets, increasing the number of services and solutions it can provide its clients in the future, and offering "a wealth of opportunities for staff development."

Headquartered in the Netherlands, Rotom Europe provides load carrier services and solutions across eleven European countries. In 2022, the group turnover exceeded €220m (£188m) and employs more than 500 employees.

The group optimises supply chains, from beginning to end, by using a range of logistics equipment for transportation and storage, facilitated through a singular contact point and supported by an extensive European location network.

Eastbourne-based goplasticpallets.com supplies plastic pallets, boxes and containers to a wide range of industries.

The company aims to create responsible supply chains, recently launching a recycling scheme that has seen the business recycle over 1,250 tonnes of plastic to date. In addition, 93% of its plastic pallets are made from 100% recycled materials.

In December last year goplasticpallets expanded its warehouse operation in Eastbourne with a new 8,000 sq ft facility adjacent to its existing site.

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Sister company All Pallets, which is based in Whitehaven, specialises in supplying new and used wooden pallets, cases and crates to customers throughout the UK and offers short notice delivery and pick-up of pallets from clients or suppliers.

The two businesses, which were founded in 1993, have worked with a wide range of major clients from across the retail, manufacturing, automotive, food and agriculture, pharmaceutical and waste management sectors for more than 30 years.

Co-founder and managing director of goplasticpallets.com, Jim Hardisty, said: “Both goplasticpallets.com and All Pallets have witnessed significant growth in recent years. This partnership with Rotom Europe marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for us and our team members – many of whom have been a part of our journey for many years.

"Rotom’s business ethos, culture, and ambitions align seamlessly with ours. We're eager to leverage their extensive product and service portfolio to enhance our offerings in the UK and Europe. This will include efficient rental and pooling solutions, plus professional packaging management and recovery services.” 

Arjan Kuiper, CEO of Rotom Europe, added: “goplasticpallets.com and All Pallets’ extensive product and service portfolios, plus their best practice business models, ensures Rotom will benefit from a market-leading presence in the UK, whilst greatly strengthening our market approach in neighbouring EU countries.

"Furthermore, their commitment to greening the supply chain and promoting a circular economy fits perfectly with our own sustainable agenda.” 

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Commenting this week on the group's purchase of the Kent-based haulier in July, Spencer-Knox (pictured), said Seafrigo PML's customers will benefit from the group's extensive geographic reach, providing a global, secure end-to-end solution, with seamless access to new supply chain routes all over the world, across road, air and ocean.

At the same time the deal brings on board PML's HMRC / DEFRA approved Border Control Posts, ERTS bonded warehouse facilities in Kent and Heathrow, and its UK customs handling service, which strengthens Seafrigo's strategy to retain complete control of the entire cold chain and avoid reliance on third parties,.

Seafrigo also sees the transaction as an opportunity to grow its European road freight offering, with the deal increasing its HGV fleet by a further 30 trucks, six of which feature powered roller bed floor systems.

The deal also benefits from Seafrigo's 47-year heritage, and PML 20 years of experience within the temperature-controlled goods sector, the group said.

Seafrigo Group, which was launched in France in 1979, specialises in the global transport of temperature-controlled food products. It operates from 25 locations across five continents and employs around 2,500 staff. 

PML operates from three locations in the UK, at Heathrow, Lincolnshire and Kent and offers air, ocean and road freight forwarding as well as warehousing and value-added services.

The acquisition saw all PML employees join the Seafrigo Group with immediate effect and its depots co-branded to PML Seafrigo with plans for the company to eventually take on the Seafrigo brand.

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Spencer-Knox said: “These are exciting times for Seafrigo and PML Seafrigo. Not only do the two businesses align in terms of their product offering and dedication to offering an exceptional service which ensures the transfer of temperature controlled goods with no break in the cold chain, they also share a similar ethos in terms of an overriding commitment to always place the needs of the customer at the heart of any corporate decision making, choosing to remain autonomous rather than developing reliance on services controlled by third parties.

"The sensitive nature of the freight that we both specialise in requires the utmost attention to detail to guarantee an efficient and speedy transfer to maximise shelf life, the ‘golden mile’ is a major hurdle for growers, producers and manufacturers especially in light of the additional challenges presented by Brexit, PML Seafrigo represents a safe and reliable partner to complete the journey.

"Bringing PML into the Seafrigo fold brings us one step closer to realising our ambition to become the fastest and largest integrated perishable supply chain provider in the UK and globally.”

Mike Parr, PML Seafrigo director added: “As a business we’ve always taken pride in being ahead of the curve, constantly innovating our product offering and adapting to the ever-changing needs of the industry.

"Our priority remains to offer a best-in-class service for perishable goods and by providing our customers with a direct route to the global infrastructure available via Seafrigo, we can continue to grow our operations, supplying genuinely worldwide logistics and supply chain solutions delivered with the outstanding knowledgeable and highly personalised customer care for which PML is renowned.

"After 20 years’ in the industry, we are looking forward to embracing this new phase of growth and expansion whilst also providing our staff with excellent career development opportunities.”

The post Seafrigo targets UK and international expansion following PML acquisition appeared first on Motor Transport.

The BDO UK & Ireland M&A Update – Q2 2023 report revealed transaction volumes in H1 rose by over 10% compared to the second half of 2022, with 32 deals completed from January to the end of June 2023 (29 in H2 2022). After a slow start to the year in Q1, activity rebounded with 19 transactions completed in Q2.

Despite the increase in activity, the disclosed deal value fell significantly, as smaller deals dominated the market, the research found.

Deals included the acquisition of Runcorn-based Maltacourt Global Logistics by Netherlands headquartered Janssen Group, backed by Waterland Private Equity and Shift Group’s purchase of the brand, IP and selected assets of Tuffnells Parcels Express, following the collapse into insolvency of the Big Green Parcel Machine.

Other transactions included the acquisition of Independent Logistics Solutions by Burnley-based EFS Global, the purchase of York-based Peter Holmes Haulage by Macclesfield’s IH Jordan Transport; and Durham-based Hargreaves Services acquisition of Greenford Haulage & Aggregates.

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The report also revealed that 35% of deals were cross-border transactions. Seven deals attracted private equity investment, with four securing direct investment and three acquisitions being completed by PE-backed companies.

Jason Whitworth, M&A partner at BDO LLP, said: “Following a slow start to the year, deal volumes rebounded in Q2, indicating a continued appetite for consolidation and investment in technology.

“The low disclosed deal value reflects a raft of smaller, lower value deal completions, compared to ‘big ticket’ transactions, highlighting a continued nervousness in the market to commit to larger investments given uncertainty in valuing future earnings.”

In addition to the report, a poll of industry leaders carried out at a series of sector events hosted by BDO and Barclays Corporate Banking earlier this year, found that 82% of respondents said changing levels of demand or volume was the biggest challenge currently facing their business.

In response, more than half of respondents (59%) said that they were focussing investment on technology to drive efficiencies, with wider use of AI and big data in supply chain processes, and the introduction of more automation, including warehouse automation, autonomous vehicles, 3D printing, and the increasing use of drones.

Whitworth added: “Tech enablement and ESG certainly dominated equity investment interest this quarter, with venture capital backing four logistics tech businesses encompassing zero-emission delivery services, supply chain decarbonisation, data analytics solutions and workflow productivity.

“As markets settle, and with more sustained stability, we anticipate growing confidence in pricing which will unlock more transactions over the coming year.”

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This is the third pallet network SK Distribution has joined to date, with the haulier also a member of Palletways and Pall-Ex.

SK Distribution specialises in express pallet delivery, online dispatch, order tracking, final proof of delivery (POD) services, and storage facilities. It is based in Buxton and has a fleet of 12 trucks.

Vic Smith, SK Distribution managing director, said: "Over the past few years, SK Distribution has witnessed significant growth in its customer base, and joining forces with TPN will enable us to further capitalize on this success.

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"Becoming part of TPN is the natural progression in our journey and will greatly support our plans for future expansion."

Mark Kendall, TPN managing director added: "We look forward to a winning collaboration with SK Distribution in the years to come.

"Our utmost dedication is focused on supporting their ongoing achievements and ensuring their sustained success."

TPN, which was acquired by Culina Group in 2021, currently has over 125 members across more than 140 locations nationwide.

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AMCO, which was launched in 1983, specialises in providing land, air and sea logistics to more than 250 UK and European customers.

In the UK AMCO has depots in Redditch, Coleshill, Coventry, Banbury, Foston near Derby, Liverpool and Manchester. It has operating licences for 72 trucks and 77 trailers.

Super Group has supply chain, fleet and dealership operations across Sub-Saharan Africa, the UK, Europe and Australasia.

The deal sees Super Group subsidiary SG International Holdings, acquire a 78.82% stake in CBW Group Holdings, which trades as AMCO, whilst the existing management team will retain the remaining 21.18% of the company.

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Super Group said AMCO's existing team brings valuable experience, with many having previously worked in sectors such as the automotive, waste, defence and FMCG markets.

It added: "The acquisition of Amco will significantly complement the group’s supply chain offering, providing opportunities for market share gains across the UK and Europe."

The group also said Amco's well-established OEM relationships, well located warehousing, a branded fleet and third-party logistics partners make the acquisition a good fit for the group.

In its most recent financial results to 30 September 2022, AMCO reported turnover of £54.5m and a pre-tax profit of £5.5m.

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The transaction sees InPost given the option to acquire the remaining stake over the next three years. InPost will also have two non-executive seats on the board of Menzies.

The deal follows an agreement between the two companies earlier this year which saw Menzies become InPost’s logistics provider in the UK.

Menzies has a national network of more than 100 depots and delivers to more than 47,000 locations every day. It has 5,000 staff and a fleet of more than 3,200 vehicles. Its network will allow InPost to expand rapidly in the UK.

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Greg Michael, chief executive of Menzies Distribution, said: “We are proud to partner with InPost and are excited about the opportunities this will create for our clients, our business, and our people.

"InPost and Menzies are uniquely positioned to deliver fast, sustainable delivery and returns in the UK benefiting consumers, retailers, suppliers, and our colleagues. We look forward to the future and supporting InPost’s next phase of growth in the UK.”

Michael Rouse, InPost International chief executive, said: “This relationship marks an important next step in InPost’s journey as we look to strengthen our position as the UK’s leading out-of-home delivery provider.

"Menzies has one of the largest time-critical delivery networks in the UK and we are excited by how the collaboration will enable us to accelerate our growth and the service we can offer our customers.”

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The acquisition will see Action Express retain its Brackmills Industrial Estate depot, with Crisis Logistics planning to invest in the site and its facilities as pallet and parcel volumes increase.

Crisis Logistics has already purchased 10 new vehicles for Action Express, including seven articulated lorries and three 18-tonne trucks, and plans to create new jobs as it grows the company.

Action Express founder and former APC Overnight chief executive, Syed Ziaullah, who established the company in 1982 with just a bike and a van, will join the board of directors at Crisis Logistics.

Founded in 1998, Crisis Logistics offers national and international road haulage as well as warehousing, fulfilment, whilst Action Express, which is also a member of the APC Overnight parcel delivery network, specialises in nationwide parcel and palletised deliveries.

Charles Grant-Salmon, chairman at Crisis Logistics, said: “As part of our growth strategy we are expanding our business and developing Crisis Logistics into the market leader and one-stop shop for all logistics services in Northamptonshire.

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“The acquisition will benefit customers of both companies by enabling us to provide a full range of logistics services across pallets, parcels and general haulage, in addition to specialist services like temperature-controlled delivery and secure distribution.  

“We are delighted that Syed will join our board for the next five years to allow us to benefit from his wealth of knowledge and enable a smooth integration into Action Express’ new era.”

Edward Grant-Salmon, managing director at Crisis Logistics, added: “We want to provide flexible solutions for our customers as they expand and diversify their own operations, and the acquisition of Action Express will allow us to do that.

“The business is a perfect fit with our own operation, as we’re both well-established firms with a loyal long-term customer base, and we remain committed to providing the best experience for all of our customers.

“In recent years, we have invested heavily in building a customer relationship management system to improve efficiency and speed up processes, which has ensured we are in a strong position to grow while also maintaining the quality of service that is so important to our customers.”

Caroline Green, chief executive at Pallet-Track, welcomed the acquisition. She said: “We are delighted to be working with Crisis Logistics and would like to extend a warm Pallet-Track welcome to Charles, Edward and the whole team.

“Action Express is a well-respected and long-term member of our network and we have every confidence that the new team will steer the business to great success in its new era.”

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