The takeover wave in logistics rolls on: logistics service provider Nijhof-Wassink from Rijssen takes over Ecotrans from Vorden. All activities, branches and employees of Ecotrans will continue - for the time being under their own name - under the Nijhof-Wassink flag.
The logistics service providers are both active in the transport of animal feed and complementary goods for the animal feed industry. Through the takeover, Nijhof-Wassink, now operating with 1,300 employees, says it is significantly expanding the number of subject specialists in the company. "With new colleagues who already speak the language of our customers and the end customer. Ecotrans' DNA and focus on quality fits seamlessly with our company's DNA. With over two hundred new colleagues and an addition of 110 truck combinations, we can provide even more flexibility to our customers," said Erik Schiphorst, ceo Nijhof-Wassink Group.
Owner Ecotrans steps down
Ecotrans says the takeover is necessary to remain a healthy company in the future. "In the new set-up, we will become part of the Nijhof-Wassink Group, under the name Ecotrans," explains Roel den Hollander, general manager and owner of Ecotrans. "We will mainly use the coming time to properly inform all our people about the new situation and we are going to make sure that everyone quickly feels at home in the Nijhof-Wassink organisation."
Den Hollander says he will step out of the company after the transfer period. "But little else will change - the company and locations will continue to exist and the Ecotrans name will also remain on the truck combinations," says the current managing director.
Takeover wave in logistics
Logistics service providers are increasingly looking for scale. Globally, but also in the Netherlands, the number of mergers and acquisitions is rising. In the first half of 2019, 123 mergers and acquisitions took place in the sector, an increase of 20 per cent compared to the second half of 2018.
This trend has continued in recent months; the past few weeks were also dominated by mergers and acquisitions. Last week it was announced that transport companies Hartman Expeditie and Brinkman Trans Holland are merging. The news followed shortly after Vos Logistics acquired SNEL Shared Logistics. At the end of November, Kuehne + Nagel announced that it was acquiring the road transport and logistics operations of Koninklijke Rotra.
