Turners of Soham buys UK’s second largest container operator, Goldstar Transport

Paul Day, managing director of Turners of Soham. (Image: Archant)

It will give the enlarged group 1,750 vehicles across three core divisions and boost turner by £95 million a year to over £400 million.

Managing director Paul Day believes the acquisition “is an exceptional opportunity for Turners and’ I’m incredibly pleased to have been given the opportunity to purchase Goldstar”.

Goldstar is the second largest container operator in the UK Mr Day says it will give Turners “a growing presence in this important sector in our industry.”

Goldstar currently operates 350 own vehicles and a similar number of dedicated subcontractors from 10 locations across the UK.

“This fits perfectly with Turners long term ambition to expand its presence within the container Industry,” he said.

“This acquisition, along with MacIntyre Transport earlier this year, will see the Turners Group reach 750 owned vehicles and 450 dedicated subcontractors operating every day in the container Industry.

Goldstar will continue to be run as a separate company and managed by its existing directors.

Managing Director Matthew Ashworth said: ‘’The support of Turners will be hugely beneficial to the long term success of Goldstar, its customers and its staff. “

The Turners Group will now have over 1,750 vehicles operating in its three core divisions, temperature controlled, tankers and containers. The group’s annual turnover will increase by £95m and will now approach £400m.

Mr Day said: “Goldstar is well managed, remains customer focussed and has achieved consistent growth of the last 18 years.

“Goldstar has an extremely loyal workforce and one which Turners looks forward to supporting and working with in the future”

Their recent opening of a logistics centre at Woolpit near Bury St Edmunds has provided them with “off-dock loaded storage; Woolpit is also the base for our training centre”.