FreightNed Logistics is taking over the personnel, equipment and warehousing of Van Wanrooy Transport. This will make FreightNed a major player in the industry in one fell swoop and may prevent collective redundancies at Van Wanrooy.
The takeover follows turbulent times at Van Wanrooy Transport. At the end of August, the police raided Van Wanrooy in Oosterhout after two loads of 3,500 and 4,000 kilos of cocaine respectively were found in the Antwerp port. The police followed the transport from Antwerp to Oosterhout and ended up at Van Wanrooy. Four employees and a former employee were arrested, including director and owner Paul van W.
"After Van Wanrooy transport hit the news badly, my colleagues and I were shocked," says Iwan van den Broek, operations manager at Van Wanrooy. "That was palpable on the shop floor. How do we maintain continuity? How do we inform our customers? Who takes charge?"
Total package of services for FreightNed
Ridderkerk-based FreightNed Logistics has been working on the acquisition of Van Wanrooy Transport for the past few months. It did so together with Van Wanrooy's management team, consisting of Mario Heeren and Eric van Laarhoven. "We all have confidence in this cooperation and see it as a great opportunity," says Ronald de Rijke, FreightNed managing director. "FreightNed is expanding its existing service package of international freight forwarding (air, water and road transport) with national transport and warehousing. This allows us to offer our existing and new customers a total package of services, which also requires the experience and knowledge of its 110-plus staff. With this total package of services, knowledge and experience, we are at once a major player in the industry."
Staff relief
For the employees of Van Wanrooy, the news that Freightned is taking over the staff, equipment and storage came as a relief. "Everyone is assured of a job, with the same close-knit club of colleagues and a pleasant and above all reliable employer," said operations manager Van den Broek.
FreightNed Benelux and FreightNed Warehousing
FreightNed and Van Wanrooy staff have already been updated on the continuation. The company will continue under the new name: FreightNed Benelux BV for transport. FreightNed Warehousing BV will be the new name for warehousing and logistics services.
