Menzies clinches 'transformational' takeover deal
Menzies Distribution, which was spun out of Edinburghbased John Menzies, has sealed a “transformational” deal bringing together two of the UK’S major logistics businesses.
The Edinburgh-head quartered group has acquired Bibby Distribution from the 213-year- old, family- owned Bib by Line Group, for an undisclosed sum.
Boss es said the deal would “unlock geographic po tential” while adding 38 operating sites and a large fleet to Menzies’ vast business.
The S cots firm distributes newspapers and magazines to almost half of the UK, and provides retail logistics and parcel delivery services to some 30,000 locations each day and employs 3,700 people. The business has a turnover of over £1 billion.
The combined business will amount to almost 5,000 employees, 4,000 vehicles and 100 depot locations.
Bibby Distribution’s customers include an array of grocery retailers and blue-chip organisations across “a range of resilient sectors”.
Greg Michael, chief executive of Menzies Distribution, said: “We are delighted to acquire Bibby Distribution. We believe that through combining the complementary business with Menzies, there are significant opportunities to grow both businesses through unlocking further geographical capability and expanding services to both sets of customers.
“For both our businesses’ customers, it will be very much business as usual and we look forward to supporting their growth in the coming years.
“Our ambitious plans for expansion under pin our absolute commitment to all our customers across all our markets.”
Richard Morson, chief executive of Bibby Distribution, said: “Menzies is the ideal partner for taking Bibby Distribution’s achievements of the last 35 years to the next level.
“Our shared values of outstanding reliability, strong relationships and heritage under pin the compelling prospect of an enlarged group taking the lead on quality and innovation in UK logistics.”
“Having established the business in 1985, Bibby Line Group has been a fantastic custodian for Bibby Distribution and has played a vital par t in the growth of the business to this point and I want to thank everyone involved for their support .”
Bibby Line Group chief executive John Cresswell added: “Bibby Distribution has built its reputation as a high quality, safe and reliable logistics provider, and since the company was established in 1985 we have seen it grow from strength to strength.
“This strategic realignment of our portfolio represents a strengthening of the group balance sheet for future investment.
“I want to thank all our Bibby Distribution colleagues for their hard work and successes, and the value they have added to customers and our group and we wish them well under new ownership with Menzies.”
Earlier this year, Menzies Distribution said it was expanding its zero-emissions delivery fleet to Scotland, as it accelerates towards using renewable energy across its entire operation. The firm said the new vans were based in Oban and were the first electric vehicles to be based in its Scottish network.