Menzies Distribution acquires JBT Distribution

Menzies Elgin facility

Menzies Distribution has announced the acquisition of JBT Distribution (JBT), an independent logistics and supply chain services business with annual sales of over £23m. The transaction extends Menzies’ network coverage with the addition of 200 vehicles and six operating sites.

JBT is based in Bathgate, West Lothian, with further depots in Aberdeen, Inverness, East Kilbride, Lerwick (Shetland) and Kirkwall (Orkney), the acquisition adds to Menzies’ geographical reach across Scotland, its growing blue-chip customer base and provides further capability to add to Menzies’ growing range of B2B retail logistics services. The company provides solutions across several sectors including retail, healthcare (with a notable specialism in temperature-controlled logistics), packaging and parcel home delivery.

The acquisition represents the fourth announcement of strategic importance made by Menzies in six months and accelerates the significant momentum already seen in the group’s recent progress. In December 2020, Menzies sealed a transformational deal combining two of the UK’s major logistics businesses. It acquired Bibby Distribution, now Menzies Distribution Solutions, unlocking geographic potential for Menzies while adding 38 new operating sites and a large, young fleet to the well-established Menzies platform. In January 2021, former Asda CEO Andy Clarke was appointed as Non-Executive Chairman. In May 2021, former Booker CEO Charles Wilson joined as a Non-Executive Director and new investor.

In September 2018 Endless LLP, the private equity investor, acquired Menzies Distribution as part of the business’s separation from John Menzies PLC. The newly independent company outlined at that time how it would develop the business through widening its service offering and geographical coverage.

Commenting on the acquisition, Greg Michael, Chief Executive Officer of Menzies, said, “We are gaining momentum at pace as we execute our ambitious strategy for growth and are delighted to acquire JBT. We believe that through combining the complementary business with Menzies, there are significant opportunities to grow both businesses through unlocking further geographical capability and expanding services to both sets of customers in Scotland and throughout the UK and Ireland. For both our businesses’ customers, it will be very much business as usual.”

Source: Menzies Distribution