Panther takes leap forward with new acquisition

Two-man delivery specialists Panther Warehousing plc has taken a giant leap forward with the acquisition of the share capital of two-man delivery business Hi-Way Express from the Pacifica Group

It is a move which will not only take the company to become a £25 turnover business within the next 12 months, but will also increase its critical mass whilst further reinforcing its market leading position within the white glove dedicated two-man delivery market.

There is a great deal of synergy between the two organisations both in terms of offering and customer base which includes major names within the retail sector.  They were therefore a natural fit and when the chance came to acquire the business Panther Warehousing executives seized the opportunity and the deal was concluded in just four weeks.

Based in Castleford, Hi-Way Express occupies a 200,000 sq ft warehouse where it has 57 employees.  Unlike Panther the business works solely on a sub contractor model so has no vehicles or drivers.   The business however will progressively operate under the Panther brand.

Panther is a business which has consistently gone from strength to strength having taken the decision to change its business model in December 2010 which took it from being a general transport company to focusing on the niche next-day two-man delivery market.

It was a move which has paid substantial dividends and one which has not only resulted in Panther more than trebling its turnover but has created a robust business laying strong foundations on which to continue to build.

Panther's unrivalled, service offering means customers in England, Wales and lower Scotland ordering goods as late as 6.30pm can expect delivery from as early as 7am the next day – or within 48 hours for the rest of Scotland.

More recently the company has further extended its service offering with the introduction of timed services and Saturday delivery as well as increasing its presence with two new depots in Peterlee and Taunton.

It is a business which has consistently punched above its weight and earlier this year developed a ground breaking app forming part of a wider £350,000 investment in its IT infrastructure, ensuring the company had the very best hi-tech offering to meet the demands of the marketplace.

Panther Warehousing plc Chairman Wilson Barrett commented:  "The acquisition of Hi-Way Express marks a new era for Panther and is one of the most exciting developments in Panther's history since we changed our business model in 2010.

"We have been looking for an M62 corridor depot for a number of months and this acquisition has given us a prime opportunity to increase our critical mass as well as provide us with the right depot location.

"By merging the two companies we are now the leading dedicated next-day two-man white glove delivery specialist in the UK which places is in an incredibly strong position on which to continue to build."

Kevin Brown, Group Managing Director, Pacifica Group commented:  "Both Pacifica Group & Panther Warehousing plc were founded on the principle of providing high quality customer service, the ethos and management team within Panther will not only ensure a smooth transfer but also offer an increased range of customer services to the existing client base.

"The Pacifica Group Board would like to place on record their gratitude to all HEHD staff for their hard work and commitment throughout their time with us and we wish them and Panther Warehousing every success in the future"