Gist’s post-acquisition strategy

London, UK: Gist, now part of Marks and Spencer, has set up a Food Export team. The move follows volume growth over the past four years and is aimed at creating a more efficient and effective supply chain, the company says.

Sean Dowling Jones, Gist’s new business director for Ireland, international, and global freight,recently transitioned from M&S, and is responsible for ensuring that Gist “delivers the highest quality and value export and logistics service to its customers on the island of Ireland.” 

Sean Dowling Jones, Gist’s new business director for Ireland, international, and global freight

The acquisition between Gist and M&S means an integrated department for the entire group allowing “class-leading food export capabilities, particularly the movement of complex food and product of animal origin into EU markets,” Gist says.

“Combining the expertise in navigating the implications of Brexit with a Food Export team comprising specialists from both organisations, means that Gist, under the M&S umbrella, has all the tools in place to deliver a truly premium export service, from customs clearance to European freight transport.”

“Gist works with a variety of different customers and partners to move goods in and out of the UK and is continuing to offer a range of freight services to new third-party customers/suppliers wanting to export to Ireland/the EU. 

“Sean’s remit also includes overseeing the M&S plans on maintaining service levels through the implementation of the Windsor framework, as well as Gist’s global freight team, which is actively looking for opportunities to leverage his new teams’ capabilities to improve service and cost to M&S for the movement of foods both in and out of the UK.”