Over the past few years, Stobart Group has evolved from a predominantly road transport business to a multimodal operation.
Today the company provides services for a wide variety of manufacturing, retail and public-sector customers across the consumer, food and defence sectors.
The story began in the 1950s when Eddie Stobart established an agricultural contracting business in the Cumberland village of Hesket Newmarket.
Stobart relocated to Carlisle in 1980, having moved into general haulage, and opened a second depot in Burton on Trent in 1988.
By 1995, the company had a fleet of 500 vehicles, a turnover of £52m and 1,600 staff.
Three years later, Eddie Stobart opened its first international depot – in Belgium.
However, in 2001 the haulage business posted its first loss and by 2002, the company was experiencing financial difficulties caused by the fuel crisis.
In 2004, Stobart was acquired by WA Developments International and a major rebranding exercise took place which included changes to the distinctive truck livery, new uniforms and upgraded premises. The firm won its first Tesco Distribution Centre contract in 2005.
A year later, Stobart's parent company acquired Carlisle Airport and Stobart Air was formed. Stobart Rail was launched shortly afterwards, offering a rail freight service.
The merger and beyond
In 2007 Eddie Stobart merged with the Westbury Property Fund in a £138m deal to become Stobart Group, with the firm listed on the London stock exchange.
With the Westbury merger, Stobart gained the Port of Weston in Runcorn. At the same time as the merger, Stobart Group also acquired the O'Connor Group, based in Widnes.
The firm made a number of acquisitions in 2008 which included James Irlam & Sons, as well as the chilled and ambient operations of Innovate Logistics.
It also set up a base in the Irish Republic for the first time.
In December 2008, Stobart Group announced it would buy Southend Airport in a £21m deal.
The Group now has more than 1,800 trucks and 3,200 trailers, and employs about 5,300 people in 40 locations across the UK, Ireland and Europe.
Key staff include William Stobart, chief operating officer, and Andrew Tinkler, chief executive.
Roger Brown
roger.brown@rbi.co.uk