Bury oils group back on the acquisition trail

Crown Oil is on the acquisition trail after announcing its second deal in a week as it looks to expand its footprint.

The company, based in Bury, Greater Manchester, has completed the purchase of family-run oil company Beesley Fuels, based in the West Midlands.

The deal, for an undisclosed sum, will give Crown Oil a new presence in the region and take staff numbers at the wider Crown Oil Group to more than 1,500.

The two businesses have worked together for the past 20 years and the purchase came about after current managing director Andrew Beesley took the decision to retire.

The business, based in Oldbury, has been run by the Beesley family for more than 50 years and turns over £8.5m.

It marks the second deal in days for the £300m-turnover group as it adds to its growing portfolio.

On September 11, Crown Oil Group announced that its Speedy Fuels brand had made an acquisition to expand its presence in the South East.

That deal, for Birlem Oil, gave Speedy three depots in the east, west and north of London, from which it supplies diesel, red diesel, fuels and lubricants to businesses in industries from construction to leisure.

The addition of Beesley will give the group a base in a new territory, enabling it to better serve customers across the UK.

Matthew Greensmith, managing director of Crown Oil Group, said: “We’re excited to have announced our second deal in such a short space of time that will see the Crown Oil Group family growing once again.

“We’ve worked closely with Beesley Fuels for the last 20 years and we look forward to building on the relationships it already has in the Midlands. I’d also like to wish Andrew Beesley well in his retirement.”