Whitchurch haulage firm Grocontinental bought by Dutch company
One of the county's biggest employers has been taken over by a Dutch firm.
Whitchurch-based haulage business Grocontinental, which employs about 360 people, has been purchased by AGRO Merchants Group.
The Dutch company, which specialises in cold storage and logistics solutions, announced the acquisition yesterday.
David Grocott and Linda Grocott, third generation owners of Grocontinental, will continue to lead the business as joint managing directors.
The move is not expected to have any impacts on other staff.
The amount the firm has been bought for has not been revealed.
“This transaction is the culmination of a process that for me began more than three years ago,” said Carlos Rodriguez, CEO of AGRO Merchants Group.
“When we founded AGRO in 2013, I quickly identified Grocontinental as the ideal potential partner in England to join our network. This is not just due to its market leading position, high-quality assets, and deep commodity expertise.
"I was most drawn to the culture and values of the Grocott family, their commitment to the local community, and the long-standing relationships with customers and employees. We could not be more pleased to welcome Linda, David and the entire Grocontinental team to AGRO Merchants Group.”
Grocontinental is the third significant investment by AGRO in the UK/Ireland, following the 2014 purchase of Castlecool and 2015 acquisition of the Sawyers Group.
Linda and David Grocott said: “Joining AGRO Merchants Group is great news for Grocontinental. We are very proud of the progression and success we have achieved over the years and now we have an excellent opportunity to take the company into a new and exciting era.
“To move Grocontinental into a larger group is not a decision we have taken lightly. We have been very impressed with AGRO’s ambitions, the strength and depth of its structure and expertise; and its respect for our 76-year family-owned business heritage. We are looking forward to being part of the future success of the group and continuing to grow our business at Grocontinental.”
