Summer 2008

Bedford-based fulfilment specialist Ark-H Handling has taken over Handling Matters of St Albans. According to Ak-H group managing director Fiona Strong: 'The companies fit extremely well together in terms of corporate values, client base and culture.'

The acquisition is the third for Ark-H in as many years. In 2006 it took over Diss Promotional Services, then in 2007 it acquired the handling and fulfilment operations of stm. 'In every case we have bought something that is close to our business model so that we can fully understand and absorb it,' Fiona Strong says.

Vince Tickel and Barry Salmon, directors of Handling Matters, say they concluded that in order to fulfil its potential, the company needed either to invest heavily in new facilities or to find a new home within a larger group.

'The Ark-H environment seemed like an ideal choice,' Salmon says. 'Ark-H and Handling Matters have a very similar business ethos and culture.'

 

Handling Matters is to move its business and staff to the Ark-H facility in Bedford in early summer, maintaining its brand identity as a separate business unit known as Handling Matters at Ark-H. Once Handling Matters are on site in Bedford it says it will be able to offer existing clients the benefits of more space, improved logistics technology and web-based platforms for management reporting.