Menzies Distribution boosts parcels operation with Thistle Couriers acquisition

Menzies Distribution has bought its third company within a year with the acquisition of Aberdeen-based Thistle Couriers for an undisclosed sum.

Traditionally an overnight media distributor, Menzies bought AJG Parcels and Oban Express last year in a bid to step-up its offering in the Scottish parcels market.

The acquisition of Thistle, it said, marks another step in this direction.

The deal will see Menzies offer a same-day delivery service across Aberdeen and the wider Grampian area.

This, it said, will improve its ability to deliver to remote locations in Scotland and to act as a consolidation partner to larger parcel delivery firms.

Thistle’s same-day operation delivers around 1,000 parcels a night, with its staff of 45 and fleet of 25 vehicles.

Menzies MD Mark Cassie said: “With our existing geographical reach, especially in harder to access towns, we are able to deliver further and wider than many other players operating within this market.

“I think this latest acquisition underlines our appeal to companies seeking cost-efficient deliveries to the North of Scotland.”

Thistle said it was “excited to play its part” in the “future that Menzies is building within the Scottish parcels industry”.