Culina Logistics Limited, as the company will be known, will be part-owned by TML Invest based in Luxembourg – the investment arm of Müller Dairy Group owner Theo Müller. Culina was originally established in the 1990s to distribute Müller yoghurts. Former Culina managing director Rien Brakel will be the new company’s group operations director, while Baylis managing director Thomas van Mourik will become chief executive.
The company says the merger will provide customers with “a broad range of ambient and multi-temperature services, a comprehensive national warehousing and transport network and an enhanced range of quality systems and services”. No staff or sites will be lost as a result of the merger, it has been confirmed. The combined group will employ 1,300 people and operate from nine sites with a fleet of 250 vehicles. The combined operation will have a starting turnover of £125m.
Negotiations are already underway with “several multi-temperature food and drink manufacturers seeking the best of both worlds for their product ranges”. “The transition from two organisations to one will be gradual and smooth,” says van Mourik. Müller invested a seven-figure sum in Baylis this May.
Analyst Thomas Cullen of Transport Intelligence says he would like an explanation for the move. “One possible scenario is that there is an opportunity here. But logistics in this sector is heavily in the grip of the big retailers. Obviously he [Müller] sees something that we don’t. I would have though t he would invest in aspects of the business other than logistics.”
Cullen says the development raises questions around the businesses in Italy and Germany, where Müller Dairy Group originated.
