European private equity firm Waterland has taken a majority stake in Lichfield-based Palletways as part of a partnership aimed at supporting the logistics group\u2019s next phase of development across Europe.<\/p>\n
The transaction will see Waterland work alongside Palletways\u2019 existing management team, led by chief executive Luis Zubialde.<\/p>\n
The investment is intended to support the company\u2019s growth plans, including expansion in key European markets, continued development of its hub-and-member network model and further investment in systems and infrastructure.<\/p>\n
Palletways will continue to operate as a member-focused palletised freight network, with the structure of the deal designed to maintain service continuity for its partner operators.<\/p>\n
The business model, which combines central coordination with locally owned transport companies, will remain unchanged.<\/p>\n
Zubialde said: \u201cPartnering with Waterland marks an exciting new chapter for Palletways. Their understanding of our sector, combined with their strong track record in supporting international growth, makes them the ideal partner for our next phase of development. Together, we will continue to invest in our network, our technology, and our people to deliver even greater value to our customers across Europe.\u201d<\/p>\n
Founded in 1994, Palletways serves customers across multiple European markets, including the UK, Germany, Italy, Iberia, the Benelux region and Hungary.<\/p>\n
From its headquarters in Lichfield, Staffordshire, the company operates 23 hubs across 25 countries and handles more than ten million pallets each year.<\/p>\n
Digital investment has played a growing role in the business, with platforms such as the Palletways Portal providing tracking and operational data across the network. These systems support coordination between hubs and members and are intended to improve efficiency and visibility.<\/p>\n
The partnership brings Palletways under the ownership of an investor with experience in logistics, industrial services and technology-enabled businesses. Waterland has previously backed a number of European companies operating in freight, fulfilment and supply chain services.<\/p>\n
Waterland said Palletways\u2019 scale, network structure and exposure to long-term logistics demand were factors in the investment decision, alongside wider trends such as e-commerce growth and increasing supply chain complexity.<\/p>\n
Wendy McMillan, partner at Waterland said: \u201cPalletways is a clear European leader in palletised freight distribution, with a proven model, a strong brand, and a highly capable management team. We are delighted to partner with them to support their ambitious growth plans. With their strong network, investment in technology, and operational excellence, Palletways is well positioned for the future.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Funding will support expansion in key European markets alongside further investment in its network and systems<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":266702,"featured_media":2109130,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[53262],"coauthors":[127717],"class_list":["post-2109129","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business-news","tag-featured-story","tag-staffordshire"],"yoast_head":"\n