Ballyvesey in for Bird's Groupage Services

Ballyvesey Holdings has bought Birmingham operator Bird’s Groupage Services for an undisclosed sum.

In a statement, the County Atrim-based business, which also owns Montgomery Transport, said: "[We] are pleased to announce that we have completed the purchase of the trade and assets of Bird's Groupage Services.

“Birds Transport & Logistics [the new trading name of the business] will be managed on an autonomous basis with its own management team and will operate separately from the Montgomery Transport Group,” Ballyvesey said.

Bird’s will continue to operate from its depots in Parsonage Street, Birmingham and Dennison Industrial Estate, Ballycare.

The operator, which is a Pallet-Track founder member, is also licensed to run vehicles from Thurrock Commercial Centre in Purfleet, Essex and Tat Bank in Oldbury, the fate of which is not presently known.

Its current O-licence across multiple sites entitles it to run up to almost 150 vehicles and more than 200 trailers.

Bird's recorded a loss of £620,574 in its latest financial accounts (year to 31/1/12). This was a marked improvement on a £1.2m loss a year earlier. Turnover in the year ended 31 January 2012 was broadly flat at £17.2m.

Under pressure

In the final company accounts ahead of the deal, the directors of Bird’s holding company Delgrey, Andrew and Delvene Levett, warned that “the trading subsidiary’s margins continue to come under pressure and the current economic downturn has resulted in lower turnover as a result.

"While efficiencies have been sought, the outlook for the haulage industry means the coming year will be difficult.”