Whistl ramps up drive into fulfilment with acquisition of Clientbase

Delivery management company Whistl has acquired Devon-based fulfilment and contact centre firm Clientbase for an undisclosed sum.

The acquisition accelerates Whistl’s drive into fulfilment, increasing its portfolio of fulfilment warehouses across the UK to eight.

It closely follows the recent expansion of Whistl’s Rushden facilities and the opening of a new warehouse in Northampton (pictured).

Based in Paignton, Clientbase comes with a complete fulfilment service for home shopping companies, including pick and pack, a 140-seat contact centre capability, warehousing, returns handling and delivery.

The purchase of Clientbase will see MD David Fanous and sales and marketing director Rob Smeddle remain with the company. Fellow founder and financial director Angus Dick is to retire.

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The company will continue to trade under the Clientbase brand and all 250 staff will remain at the firm’s two sites in Devon.

Clientbase also brings a number of blue chip clients to the deal. Brands include Cisco, Dogs Trust, Madeleine, Peter Hahn, RSPCA, Secret Lab, Scotts of Stow and Sophie Conran.

Whistl chief executive Nick Wells said: “We look forward to welcoming the Clientbase team into the Whistl family. They share our entrepreneurial approach and commitment to best in class service.

“Combining their expertise alongside our current and growing capabilities enables us to provide the scale and resource required to meet the ever expanding demand for online shopping.”

Added Fanous: “Through joining forces with Whistl we will strengthen their already well-established fulfilment arm and in turn, we will now be part of the UK’s leading delivery management company, and be able to draw upon their expertise and infrastructure.”