A Northumberland haulage business that launched almost a century ago with just four cattle trucks has been acquired.
Emmex Freight Services in Morpeth is run by husband-and-wife team Raymond and Sandra Hare, 96 years after Mr Hare’s grandfather James first started a business in the industry in Felton in 1928.
Mr Hare joined the family business after leaving school at 15, starting as an apprentice mechanic and working his way through the business until starting his own company in 1991, called SanRay Haulage. In 1997 he invested in new vehicles and formed Emmex Freight Services - named after his daughter Emma – and the firm now has 12 vehicles and 26 trailers, as well as 12 staff.
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Having built up the business to a £2.5m turnover enterprise, he has now decided to retire to spend more time with his wife. Nearby contract services and skip hire company R Thornton & Co, from Linton, saw the opportunity to increase their business provision and have now bought the company, adding the Emmex Freight Services brand to their portfolio.
Formed in 1957, the company is part of the M J Hickey Plant Hire and Contracts Ltd group of companies and specialises in major groundwork projects, demolition, site clearance, recycled aggregates, plant and skip hire. Directors of Thornton & Co, Nick Heads and Anthony Hickey, said they are delighted with the acquisition.
Mr Hickey said: “We recognise the value in adding Emmex to our family. We are now able to provide a one stop shop including the clearance of sites and groundwork projects moving on to the transportation of goods across the country and beyond. It’s a good fit for our business model and can only help us grow even more.”
R Thornton & Co are will soon move to a new site in Lynemouth where it can accommodate the expanded team and vehicles, but the owners said they are keen to retain elements of the past to make sure the effort Mr and Mrs Hare put into their haulage businesses is remembered.
Mr Head added: “Emmex has a very proud heritage and is an important part of Northumberland’s transport history. We are keeping the Emmex brand alive and looking forward to taking Raymond’s legacy on the road ahead.”
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