Turners (Soham) takes 30% stake in Dowse Haulage, cementing partnership

Turners (Soham) has bought a 30% stake in bulk powder specialist Dowse Haulage after MD Paul Day spied an opportunity.

The Cambridgeshire logistics company has worked with Dowse, which operates 38 lorries and 43 trailers out of two bases in Brigg, North Lincs, for several years and Day said it bought the shareholding after one of its minority shareholders decided to retire.

“Dowse is an extremely well run and efficient business,” he said.

“I have admiration for Marc [Dowse, company MD] and he has a great team working with him.

“They are totally customer focused and their core business is in powder tankers that Turners specialises in – it was a logical fit.”

Dowse said the shares belonged to his sister who wanted to sell up; he confirmed that he continues to hold 65% of the shares and the remaining 5% belong to Dowse employee Paul Gregory.

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He added that Turners’ involvement had “opened my eyes” to the haulage giant’s ability to purchase goods and services.

“The buying power of fuel, AdBlue, trucks, tanks; you run 38 trucks and you think you are one of the big boys - but you are really not one of the big boys,” he said.

Turners (Soham) currently has investments in a range of trading and non-trading companies, including Goldstar Transport and Profresh Solutions, and Day said he was “always looking to improve Turners”.

Day said: “I have no doubt we will work well together and we will prove to be a successful partnership.

“I believe the investments we’ve made will prove successful over the long term. I am pleased with our progress.

“If we continue to work hard, provide efficient solutions for our customers, I am confident we will have a strong long term position.”