Turners (Soham) buys Macintyre Transport to boost its container business

Turners (Soham) has purchased Macintyre Transport, for an undisclosed sum.

Suffolk-based Turners said it had been expanding its container division during the past five years, and the acquisition of Macintyre was an excellent opportunity to continue its growth in the market.

Turnover at Macintyre Transport in the year to 30 April 2014 was up 11% to £24.3m (2013: £21.9m). Pre-tax profit was down 9.4% to £934,278 (2013: £1.03m)

The founder and owner of the Felixstowe-based operator, Harvey Macintyre, will retire from the business.

Paul Day, MD at Turners, said: "I’m pleased to have had the opportunity to purchase such a well-managed business. It is highly focused on its customers and has an extremely able and loyal workforce.

“Turners will do everything it can to retain this ethos within Macintyre and we hope to add to the business using our expertise and commitment to assist its future developments.”

Harvey Macintyre said: ‘’Macintyre Transport, its customers and its people are extremely important to me. I am delighted to have found a buyer with the same values who I know will take the business forward for the long term benefit of all. It is in safe hands."

Turners said post-deal it now had a significant presence in the container industry operating 400 vehicles from the major ports of Felixstowe, Tilbury , Gateway and Southampton as well as from the railhead terminals at Selby, Leeds, Manchester and Birmingham.

In 2013, Turners acquired hazardous logistics specialist Lewis Tankers as part of a strategy to expand its ADR operations.