A leading UK transport and third-party logistics specialist, H&M Distribution, has expanded its operations following the acquisition of Orion Express Services Limited in Warrington.
H&M Distribution, which has depots in Warrington, St Neots, Gloucester and Birmingham, and Orion Express, are both members of Palletways, Europe’s largest and fastest growing express palletised freight network.
The acquisition will see H&M Distribution benefit from a wider customer portfolio, with the North-West Depot set to increase the volume of pallet movements by around 12 per cent. As a result, H&M has significantly expanded its commercial team to cope with extra demand.
Steve Thorpe, regional director at H&M Distribution, said: “It’s an exciting time for us as two great businesses have come together. Since our launch in 2007, we’ve developed a loyal customer base that we’re immensely proud of.
“When the opportunity arose to acquire Orion Express, we saw it as a chance to provide their customers with a first-class service synonymous with H&M, expand our coverage in the Palletways network and secure new business.”
The acquisition of Orion Express comes just 15 months since H&M acquired Hunt Brothers Ltd transport division in November 2016.
Steve added: “While we’ve always offered our customers full and part-load services throughout the UK, there was an opportunity to purchase the transport division of Hunt Brothers business which operated solely in the ‘general haulage’ sector. The chance to develop the business in this sector was just too good to miss, and it’s proven to be a good decision so far.”
H&M Distribution provides a range of transport and warehousing services throughout the UK, with services now reaching into Europe and beyond.
H&M Distribution is one of over 110 independent transport providers that are part of the Palletways UK network. They benefit from shared expertise and resources from within the group to deliver consignments of palletised freight to market faster and more cost effectively than ever before. The Palletways Group comprises 400 depots and 17 hub operations, through which it provides collection and distribution services across 20 European countries, including the UK.
