Logistics firm extends reach towards South West with acquisition

Burnley logistics company Fagan & Whalley has acquired South Wales firm Alan R Jones & Sons for an undisclosed sum.

The Padiham-based business operates a fleet of 170 vehicles and five sites across the UK, including a 200,000 sq ft warehousing and distribution depot recently launched in Blackburn.

Alan R Jones will bring 39 commercial vehicles and 40,000 sq ft of warehousing space to the business.

Sam Fagan, business strategy director with Fagan & Whalley, said: “Following a period of continued growth and development, we saw this as a valuable opportunity to strengthen our geographical position and embark on the next step in our plans for expansion.

“We’re extremely proud to be welcoming the Alan R Jones team on board and to be acquiring the brand as part of the Fagan & Whalley family. It’s a match that’s not only strategic, but one that makes sense.”

He added: “Alan R Jones & Sons is a business that, having been built up from an initially small operation just like ours was, holds similar core values and celebrates an excellent reputation in Wales and across the South West. It will be beneficial to have additional strategic locations functioning in our network, and we’re looking forward to working with the impressive, stable, and diverse customer base that the Alan R Jones team has worked hard to develop over their 50 years in business.”

He said the takeover will help the firm expand into the South West.

Ray Clegg, former managing director of Alan R Jones & Sons, said: “It had become an obvious strategic move for the business to look at new opportunities, and when we had a discussion with the team at Fagan & Whalley it was immediately clear that they put their people at the core of what they do, with a reputation that’s second to none, and I am truly delighted that Alan R Jones & Sons will now move forward into the future with new leadership and new opportunities to cement its status as a service-driven, people-led, award-winning organisation.”

Advisors working with Fagan & Whalley included: Neil Carpenter, advisor from FSS Associates; Brett Cooper, who provided legal support from Backhouse Jones; Rob Richardson and David Simmons from Azets who delivered financial due diligence and Vicky Pickering and Carol Watters from Azets who provided tax, VAT and duty advice.