Norbert Dentressangle

Norbert Dentressangle Group (ND) is a major French transport and logistics company which has 370 sites across 14 European countries.

It was founded in 1979, by the man of the same name, and initially concentrated on cross-Channel transport between France and the UK.

Between 1985 and 1987 the company built up a European transport network, opening branches in Italy, Spain and the Benelux countries.

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the firm acquired about 30 companies, reinforcing its presence in France.

The group was floated on the French stock exchange in June 1994 and in 1997 took over two major logistics companies in France: Confluent and UTL.

By the late 1990s it was focusing on expansion into Eastern Europe, particularly Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Romania.

In 2002 and 2003 ND expanded its logistics activity through the acquisition of Van Mierlo in the Netherlands, Stockalliance in France and Cidem in Italy.

In 2005, ND launched a three-year plan to continue its international growth, integrate sustainable development practices and expand its service range.

At the same time it bought the French distribution firm Venditelli.

The group also purchased the logistics business and part of the transport activities of TNT Logistics France, which meant it became number two in the French logistics market.

In 2006, the company strengthened its Eastern European network with the purchase of Romanian transport company Transcondor.

The acquisition of the Spanish company CCH also enabled ND to boost its presence in the Iberian Peninsula.

In December 2007, the company purchased UK-based transport firm Christian Salvesen for around £254m.

The company has doubled in size since the incorporation of Salvesen with a current total of about 30,000 employees.

ND says it is now giving priority to internal growth.

Roger Brown
roger.brown@rbi.co.uk

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