Kinaxia Logistics has bought Mark Thompson Transport, its eighth operator acquisition in just over five years.

The deal is Kinaxia’s third this year; it bought Panic Transport in February and Maiden’s of Telford in May.

The business also owns Bay Freight; William Kirk; NC Cammack & Sons; Foulger Transport; and Lambert Brothers Haulage.

Mark Thompson, which runs 153 vehicles with its 160 employees, had turnover of £17.7m for the year ended March 31 2016, with pre-tax profit of £1.5m.

Kinaxia said that Mark Thompson Transport’s expertise in night time operations boost its presence in the sector. It confirmed MD Mark Thompson will remain in-post but also join the Kinaxia management team to “extend his overnight logistics business model across the group”.

Kinaxia Logistics director Peter Fields added that the group anticipated making further acquisitions in the coming year.

“These will be in line with our aim to build a flexible and efficiant, service-focused haulage and warehousing group covering the UK,” he said.

Thompson said: “We have seen substantial growth over the last five years and are delighted to be joining Kinaxia Logistics."

All of the operator’s staff will remain with the Warrington, Cheshire-based company.

Kinaxia's acquisitions to date