C company buys Bullens
Page 12
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
• Bullens, the Wincanton Distribution Services removals company, has been bought by Hoults Removals, NFC's removals division, for £3.9m.
The acquisition, predicted by Commercial Motor (31 Oct-6 Nov), is part of a rationalisation of Wincanton Distribution Services following its announcement in March of poor end-of-year results. Bullens was known to have had a particularly poor year of trading.
Bullens has nine depots, 300 staff and 150 artics, flatbeds and 17-tonne trucks. It has a turnover of about £12m and specialises in office removals and contract distribution for computer companies. It also has a crate hire business.
Hoults Removals is a part of NFC's Home Services division. Home Services includes the removals company Pickfords in the UK, and companies in the US, Australia, Belgium and the Netherlands. The Home Services division had a turnover of £557.2m last year.
With the acquisition, Hoults will have a turnover of about £20m. Hoults also specialises in office removals. The Bullens name will be kept for the foreseeable future. Some of the Bullens and Hoults depots are close together, and Hoults is examining possible mergers. Bullens managing director Aubrey Appleton will now report to Hoults Group managing director Malcolm Free.
Wincanton Tankers started a trial contract with Tesco last week for fuel delivery to three of its South-East stores. Two Wincanton tankers are delivering fuel to three of Tesco's 130 stores.
Previously, all fuel was distributed by oil companies to Tesco's stores, The Wincanton contract, using two tankers, is part of a trial by Tesco to buy fuel direct from oil traders and organise its own distribution. It could be expanded, says Tesco director Ray Allcock.