Market Drayton, UK: Culina Group has bought GreenWhiteStar Acquisitions which includes Eddie Stobart, Eddie Stobart Europe, I-Force, Pallet Network, and Logistics People.
The acquisition will take Culina’s overall turnover to over £2.2bn with a combined workforce of around 22,000 staff, 20 million square feet of warehousing and 5,500 vehicles, the company said.
Thomas van Mourik, chief executive, Culina Group said: “GreenWhiteStar Acquisitions and Culina Group are complementary businesses, two very strong organisations with great reputations in the industry and with similar cultures. This is an excellent fit which is going to be fantastic for both our staff and for our clients, whilst making Culina Group the largest FMCG logistics provider in the UK.”
“It goes without saying that we are acquiring some excellent contracts, facilities and people. This move significantly expands our ambient network and will enable us to benefit from synergies and efficiencies that will improve our service offer to customers even further.”
The acquisition extends the existing Culina Group network to over one hundred distribution centres in the UK following the addition of the forty plus sites operated by GreenWhiteStar Acquisitions and makes Culina the largest privately owned logistics provider in the UK.
“Culina Group recognises that it is investing in a highly successful business with its own great family spirit,” William Stobart, executive chairman, GreenWhiteStar said.
“Culina Group’s aim now is to support our growth trajectory with the added workforce infrastructure and resources of the overall group.
William Stobart will sit on the Culina Group board for the long term as deputy group chief executive.
Culina Group companies include Culina Logistics, Great Bear Distribution, Fowler Welch, AIM Logistics, CML, Morgan McLernon, IPS, FoodPack, MMiD, Warrens, and Unity Resourcing. The latest acquisition adds Eddie Stobart, Eddie Stobart Europe, I-Force, Pallet Network and Logistics People.
Pictured above are: (left to right) Chris Price, CFO Ambient; David Pugh, CFO Chilled; Alastair Isbister, CEO – Great Bear and Warrens; Thomas van Mourik, CEO – Culina Group; Ryan Wheeler, CEO – Unity Resourcing Solutions; Gary Donnelly, CIO – Culina Group; Glyn Davies, non-exec director – Culina Group; Richard Berry, HR director – Culina Group; Andrew Dawson, CEO – IPS; Steve Winwood, CEO – Culina Logistics; John Kerrigan, CEO – Fowler Welch; Philip Clarke, MD – Morgan McLernon; Nigel Jury, company secretary – Culina Group; William Stobart, Deputy CEO – Culina Group; Tom Middlemiss, MD – Warrens; Rebecca Smith, Legal Director; David Pickering, CEO – Eddie Stobart; Paul Thirkell, MD – iForce; Carl Stairs, MD – The Logistics People; Mark Kendall, MD – The Pallet Network; Raf Hustinx, MD – Eddie Stobart Europe
