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International Road Ferry joins Culina stable

[ January 3, 2023   //   ]

Culina Group is to take over International Road Ferry (IRF) for an undisclosed sum. International Road Ferry has offices in Rotterdam, Venlo, Felixstowe and Thetford and specialises in unaccompanied transport of full and part loads between Great Britain, the Netherlands, Germany and Switzerland.
Culina Group says it has significantly strengthened its position in the European Logistics Sector with the acquisition.
Culina Group is owned by the German Mueller family’s Unternehmensgruppe, best known in the UK for its Müller range of yogurts and other dairy products. It has recently embarked on a major buying spree in the UK and its stable includes Stobart, iForce, and The Pallet Network, Fowler Welch, CML, Morgan McLernon, Great Bear and Warrens.
It now claims to be the largest logistics operator in the FMCG sector in the country.
International Road Ferry will sit within Culina Group’s Stobart Intermodal operation headed by Arthur Koutstaal as managing director with Stobart Europe managing director Raff Hustinx assisting with finance and reporting.
Culina Group chief executive Thomas van Mourik, said:
“International Road Ferry and Culina Group are complementary businesses, both are strong organisations with well-earned reputations in the industry and hold similar values. This is a great fit which is going to be beneficial for both our staff and for our clients, whilst making Culina Group a key player in European transport.
“It goes without saying that we are acquiring some excellent people, contracts and facilities. This move significantly expands our European network and will enable us to benefit from synergies and efficiencies that will improve our service offer to customers even further.”
International Road Ferry chief executive, Antoine Ligtvoet, added: “Culina Group recognises that it is investing in a highly successful business with its own great spirit. Our aim is to now support our growth trajectory with the added infrastructure and resources of the overall Culina Group. The combining of our two businesses will create major opportunities for significantly growing market share.”

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