Centurion has expanded its Western Australian footprint with the acquisition of Express Group transport business.
The logistics provider today announced it had purchased the highly trusted and regarded refrigerated transport business, Express Group, which operates South West Express and Great Southern Express.
The entire business will be transitioned to become part of Centurion’s Western Australian operations, maintaining the Express Group’s focus on fresh food and refrigerated transport services to leading supermarkets and other primary produce from state’s south west regional areas.
Centurion CEO Justin Cardaci said the acquisition was part of Centurion’s broader strategy to expand the company’s operational focus as it continued to provide logistics solutions to resource rich regions of Australia.
“The Express Group is a great company, and its focus on transporting frozen and chilled goods, dairy, fresh meats and other perishable goods means it services some of WA’s most successful supermarket chains and leading producers,” said Cardaci.
“Mark and Andrea Mazza and their team have built a company that’s in great shape that at the forefront of innovation, which is where Centurion likes to be.”
Centurion will welcome South West Express and Great Southern Express into its operations and then let them get on with what they do best.
“We’ve worked for them before and vice versa, so we know what they can do, that’s what attracted Express Group to Centurion,” Cardaci continued.
“I’m also delighted that all Express Group employees will transition to Centurion in what I expect will be a seamless process. It is a terrific team and I welcome them wholeheartedly to Centurion.”
Express Group CEO Mark Mazza said he was delighted that the family-owned business he and his wife Andrea had founded in 1995 would become part of another family-owned and operated road transport business.
“I know what it takes to nurture and grow a business from the ground-up and I have every confidence that Express Group with the Cardaci family is in the hands of people who are committed long term to this industry and the people who work in it,” Mazza said.
“I can see that Express Group is a perfect fit with Centurion and I look forward to the refrigerated and fresh food service we established 27 years ago continuing to thrive under the guidance of Justin and his team.”
Mazza also paid tribute to the company’s 100 employees.
“I’ve had the honour of working with some of the best in the South West, whose dedication to our customers and their drive to deliver best-in-class service every day, whether they’re behind the wheel or behind a keyboard, has made Express Group a business worthy of Centurion’s attention,” he said.
Cardaci said the Perth to Bunbury route would be an ideal testing ground for Centurion’s move towards alternative fuels and battery technology before deploying them to the company’s northern transport routes.
“Centurion is beginning its carbon reduction journey and we want to be at the forefront of our industry demonstrating that road transport has a significant contribution to make to a low- or no-carbon future,” he said.
The commercial terms of the acquisition are confidential according to a statement released by Centurion.