Owens Group acquires Celtic Couriers

Llanelli-based Owens Group has acquired Celtic Couriers Holdings Limited (CC) for an undisclosed sum.

The Palletforce member, which provides transport, warehousing and distribution services and runs a fleet of over a 1,000 vehicles, said the purchase is driven by plan to further expand its services in South Wales and to meet “significant” growth.

It added the deal will complement its express delivery and pallet network services.

CC, which is also based in Llanelli, is a member of the APC parcel network and Fortec and was acquired in 2015 by Gareth and Cindy Jenkins. CC will continue to be operated on a standalone basis within the Owens Group.

This is the second acquisition Owens group, which is a member of Palletforce, has made in four years. In 2018 it bought Manchester based BTS Haulage.

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Huw Owen, group MD at Owens, said “I am delighted that we have added Celtic Couriers to the Owens Group and I am pleased to welcome all of our new colleagues to the group.

“It is particularly pleasing to complete this acquisition in the heartland of our business and to further grow the Owens Group activities in the Llanelli area.

“I have always been impressed with the reputation that Celtic Couriers has in the market for customer service and I believe that Gareth and Cindy have grown the business based on the same “family business” values and principles as we have always had within Owens, focusing on excellent customer service.”

Ian Owen, group operations director at Owens added: “I am looking forward to working with Gareth and Cindy and all of the staff at Celtic Couriers to continue to develop the business within the Owens Group.

“Both businesses have significant attributes which complement each other and provide the foundation to take the Celtic Couriers business to the next phase of its progression.

“This acquisition, together with the exceptional organic growth we have achieved in recent years, demonstrates our ambition to continue to grow the Owens group and our continued confidence in the markets we operate in.”