After embarking on a joint venture with Aztek International Freight Ltd. in 2021, the cargo-partner has now acquired the remaining shares and will fully integrate its UK-based partner company into the cargo-partner group. With this step, cargo-partner is adding two new offices, in East London and Bradford to its existing location in Manchester and thus further expands its network.
A little over a year after cargo-partner established its UK operations with the first office in Manchester, the company now completes its acquisition of Aztek International, after initially purchasing one-third of the shares in 2021. cargo-partner’s team in the UK has now grown from 13 to 55 employees, in three locations across the UK in the last 15 months.
Strong European network and post-Brexit expertise
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Stefan Krauter, CEO of cargo-partner, explains the strategic significance of this investment: “We have been working with Aztek for 15 years, during which we have mutually helped each other to grow and develop our business. This acquisition will significantly complement our existing service portfolio in the UK, especially in groupage road transport. In addition, the recently grown team will continue to successfully support clients, keeping their supply chains moving across Europe and navigating the complex new customs requirements following ‘Brexit’”.
Focus on emergency solutions
Besides supporting customers with post-Brexit customs procedures, the logistics provider has also placed a strategic focus on express solutions for highly time-critical transports. Since opening their UK branch, cargo-partner has handled several emergency air freight shipments for customers from the automotive, aerospace, healthcare, retail, and consumer industries.
Strategic expansion in Western Europe
Traditionally the Austrian-based logistics provider has had a very strong presence in Central and Eastern Europe but has recently substantially invested to also further expand the footprint in Western Europe. Besides having branch offices in Germany and Benelux for 20 years, cargo-partner has recently added Ireland, Italy, Spain, Sweden, and the UK to its network and is now represented in the most important markets in the region. Further strengthening its footprint in the UK is an essential puzzle piece in the company’s strategic development plans in Western Europe for 2022 and beyond.
cargo-partner’s strongly established Asian organization will continue the cooperation with their European agents by neutrally handling their routed cargo. “It is their business and we can join the benefits of scale and consolidation, we are also open to discussing if one or the other wants to join our group”, says Roland Kern, Director of Global Network Development.
