Stobart establishes multimodal division

Culina Group company Stobart Europe has started 2022 with the establishment of a new division – Stobart Multimodal.

Stobart Multimodal will offer a wide range of integrated specialist services including ambient and temperature controlled logistics solutions, road and rail transport to continental port of exit, export customs formalities, shipment to the UK, import customs clearances, and deliveries in to Culina Group locations.

Following the acquisition of Stobart Europe in the summer of 2021 Culina Group had a vision to establish a fully integrated supply chain and over the last six months have been working hard to make Stobart Multimodal a reality.

Accelerated development of the vision was prompted by the various unprecedented logistics challenges of 2021, including COVID, Brexit, and the evolving driver shortage. These challenges have been financially tough and time-consuming for many Culina Group customers. Significantly COVID exacerbated Brexit issues have frequently caused continental loads to arrive in to the UK late, sometimes leading to empty shelves in stores. The challenges confirmed to Culina Group that the time was right to develop the Stobart Multimodal concept.

“Well over 100,000 full loads are delivered into Culina Group warehouses from the continent each year and up until now we have had limited control over when goods would be arriving,” said Thomas Van Mourik – Culina Group CEO.

“Stobart Multimodal will address this. High-level logistics solutions will be offered and performance will be guaranteed, all backed up by emergency solutions in the form of Culina Group resources.

“We will work with selected partners on specific corridors easing the pressure on our customers supply chains and limiting disruption to their operations.”

Leading the development of Stobart Multimodal is international logistics expert Arthur Koutstaal. Koutstaal has nearly 40 years’ experience in logistics and has worked in numerous operational positions for prominent businesses such as Geest North Sea Line (now part of Samskip), P&O Ferrymasters Zeebrugge, ECS European Containers, Koolwijk Logistics, and Move Intermodal.

“I am very pleased to welcome Arthur to the Culina Group business in the position of Senior Supply Chain Specialist for Stobart Multimodal,” said Van Mourik. “He has always had strong links with the UK and Ireland and has historically worked very closely with Culina Group delivering into our warehouses so knows our business well.”

Stobart Multimodal priorities going forward will be focused around infrastructure and IT whilst developing its network with strategic partners. Culina Group will also be looking at potential acquisitions that fit with the Stobart Multimodal business model as well as identifying appropriate investment opportunities.