DFDS has acquired Dutch logistics company Huisman Group as it expands and develops its European services.
The Wijchen-headquartered operation provides cargo solutions across the North Sea, with warehouses and cross-docking facilities there and in Corby, Northamptonshire.
It employs 104 people and has a fleet of 55 trailers and 50 trucks, generating a turnover of 23 million euros (£19m).
Niklas Andersson, DFDS executive vice president and head of the logistics division for the Danish giant, which has its UK headquarters in Immingham, said: “Huisman Group is an excellent provider of part-load solutions between the Netherlands and the UK that complements our existing strong full-load business in these markets. We can now offer customers an even wider scope of solutions.”
The business, focused on time-critical freight between the UK/Ireland and continental Europe, can be traced back to a courier service launched between Venray and Nijmegen in 1970. It now works with international clients.
Synergies are anticipated from both business development and operational integration.
John Scholten, owner and managing director of Huisman Group, will become a director of DFDS’ part-load activities which he will grow on the basis of Huisman and in collaboration with Michael Bech (to whom he reports) for the continental activities, with Allan Bell for the UK & Ireland activities and Valdemar Warburg for the Nordic and Baltic activities.
Huisman Group will be consolidated in the DFDS Group, and it follows the 2018 purchase of Alphatrans, another Dutch business with UK interests at South Killingholme, and Grimsby’s Quayside Distribution in 2015.
