The takeover carousel
The transport and forwarding industry has particular regional strengths in France. French SMEs with international activities, for example to and from the British Isles, are rounding out their portfolios with targeted prime acquisitions.
France’s heart beats in the countryside. Those areas are showing how the pandemic is speeding up further consolidation in the freight forwarding, logistics and transport industry.
The Groupe Mousset is one prime example. It was established 56 years ago, and today the group with its more than 100 sites spread all across France, as well as in Poland, Ukraine and Morocco, generates annual sales worth approximately EUR 280 million. Now it has realised a special takeover in the segment for the transport of foodstuffs and drinks, purchasing Transavoielait. As the company’s name reveals, the enterprise specialises in collecting milk in the Savoie, Haute-Savoie and Ain regions. The corporation, headquartered in Musièges, near Annecy, transports approximately 150 million l of milk annually, with 48 drivers in action. Mousset has thus been able to move into a key niche in the land of gourmets.
France’s Groupe Hautier is also implementing its next expansion phase. The first stage took place in 2010–2011; in the last three years it has bought the French companies Resano, Gervais and Monteau Transport. Now it has purchased the Groupe Hautier Transports Gazeau & Brelet. The product of a merger in 2013, founded in the port of La Rochelle in 1914, is also active in the distribution of foodstuffs.
18 months ago the French Guyamier group took over Transports Lacassagne; now it has added Atlantique Europe Express (AEE) to the fold. Guyamier was founded in 1948 and has grown through acquisitions since 2019. AEE transports goods from southwestern France to the UK and Ireland. This move is a logical step, as Lacassagne also serves the France–UK route. Brexit is driving the attractive trade across the Channel.
