Laying future foundations

20/04/2010

Grimsby-based TFA Box Company has signed a five-year lease for 20,000 sq ft of property to house new facilities in the town.

The supplier and washer of fish boxes for the east coast catching and processing industry has taken on two units at Omega Business Park, following the successful acquisition of the business by PPS Equipment Management.

TFA director Peter Davey said: "TFA has been a key player within the Grimsby and Hull area for many years and has recognised that to continue to meet the growing expectations of our customers, it was necessary to invest and upgrade current facilities.

"Therefore, the acquisition was timely and is seen as a positive move for all those involved, as PPS Equipment Management aim to take the company forward and invest in the business."

As reported last month, PPS bought out TFA after synergies in poultry and fresh produce sectors were identified. The management at TFA and all the staff will actively continue within the company and will shortly relocate operations to the vastly overhauled premises on South Humberside Industrial Estate.

It follows an agreement being reached between the company and landlord Spencer Industrial Estates through Humber-based commercial property agent Garness Jones.

The move has seen the building division of the firm create additional office accommodation as part of the deal.

Operational staff from both TFA and PPS are now working closely together to install a large twin-lane, high-volume wash line in the new plant and are looking to establish the same high wash standards as accredited to the PPS plant at Measham, in the west midlands.

Dale Gooderham, surveyor at Garness Jones, said: "This is a welcome letting for us.

"The Omega site in Estate Road Six is a former manufacturing site that has been refurbished and one of the biggest advantages of the site is the availability of the largest electricity supply, gas supply and direct water supply, which will be of major benefit to the tenant."

Formerly home to CCL, the site was turned into seven units, with extensive works carried out.

A single unit of 14,600 sq ft now remains on the market and neighbours will include the acclaimed indoor football and cricket centre PlaySport.

Mr. Gooderham said: "All of the units have been re-roofed with new utility supplies, and these have been great lettings when you consider the market conditions."

PPS has built up a solid reputation in providing a similar service connected with returnable transit equipment and hygienic wash services – mainly plastic pallets and crates primarily to customers in the dairy, poultry and fresh produce sectors, where volumes tend to be much higher.

PPS management are delighted by the acquisition as this is considered a complementary business and forms part of its strategic plan for controlled growth, having begun to investigate possibilities last year.

Following a number of meetings, an agreement was finally reached, with both sides acknowledging the many synergies of their respective operations.

For PPS it was said to provide an established and respected entry into a new market segment, while for TFA, it provided investment and access to the special operational practices employed by PPS.

PPS Equipment management director David Peggie said: "We are delighted with this acquisition as it strengthens the position of PPS as we diversify with an established complementary and established business.

"TFA will continue to be strategically located in Grimsby to service the fishing industry and PPS will bring to them a wealth of experience in washing and equipment management as we look to grow the business."

Links 

Garness Jones

www.garnessjones.co.uk