Road haulier gets new name

Distribution group Hays Logistics today hailed a new phase in its development as it renamed itself ACR Logistics.

The Paris-based company – a former arm of personnel group Hays – said the new strategy would see it boost its presence across a range of European countries.

Recruitment specialist Hays sold the group to US-based acquisition vehicle Platinum Equity last November in a deal worth €149.3m.

The move was part of a string of disposals by Guildford-based Hays in its drive to become a recruitment and human resources specialist.

ACR Logistics, which is the UK’s third logistics group, now has 175,000 staff and operates 2.7 million square metres of warehouse space across 11 European countries, including Ireland, France, Germany, the UK, Italy, Spain and Portugal.

It provides its services to manufacturers, retailers and the automotive, industrial, telecoms and technology sectors. Its customers include Nestlé, Gillette, Unilever, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, B&Q, France Telecom and Orange.

Chief executive Xavier Urbain said today that the company’s European expansion would focus particularly on Germany and Spain, while it would also look at moving into areas such as Russia and Hungary.

ACR said the re-branding marked a “new phase” in its development, which includes plans to increase turnover by 10% year-on-year, excluding external growth. Turnover is currently €1.2bn.

In today’s announcement, it also announced the appointment of Glenn Lindfield as managing director of UK operations.

Mr Lindfield joined Hays in 1999 following 16 years at rival Christian Salvesen.