Menzies Distribution has acquired JBT Distribution (JBT), a leading independent logistics and supply chain services business with annual sales of over £23 million. The transaction cements Menzies’ position as a major force in UK logistics, extending its network coverage with the addition of 200 vehicles and six operating sites.
Based in Bathgate, West Lothian, JBT has further depots in Aberdeen, Inverness, East Kilbride, Lerwick (Shetland) and Kirkwall (Orkney). The acquisition adds to Menzies’ geographical reach across Scotland, its growing blue-chip customer base and also provides further capability to add to Menzies’ growing range of B2B retail logistics services.
This latest acquisition follows its takeover of Bibby Distribution, now Menzies Distribution Solutions. In January 2021, former Asda CEO Andy Clarke was appointed as Non-Executive Chairman. In May 2021, former Booker CEO Charles Wilson joined as a Non-Executive Director and new significant investor.
Commenting, Greg Michael, Chief Executive Officer of Menzies, said:
We are gaining momentum at pace as we execute our ambitious strategy for growth and are delighted to acquire JBT. 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 in Scotland and throughout the UK and Ireland. 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 and working with Robert Gordon, Donald Carmichael and the rest of the team at JBT to help deliver this. We warmly welcome our new colleagues and look forward to the next phase of our journey as an enlarged group.
Robert Gordon, Director of JBT Distribution, added:
We believe that Menzies is aligned with the future strategic and growth plan in the sectors in which we operate and will enhance the service offering of the business both locally and nationally. There will be exciting and new opportunities for the staff at JBT, whose dedicated input to the business has taken it to the position it is in today. We wish them all continued success within the larger business group and know they will continue to support the customer base with the same level of dedication that has always been evidenced.
Andrew Ross, Partner at Endless LLP, added:
We are delighted to be supporting Menzies Distribution with their second acquisition in six months. This acquisition further accelerates the momentum in our strategy to transform and diversify the operations of this business. We look forward to working with Robert Gordon, Donald Carmichael and the wider JBT team to further grow the business as part of the Menzies group.
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