Having announced its recent acquisition of the Cemex Packed Aggregates business in the UK, GRS Bagging explains how it is well placed to provide its customers with the products and services they need.

GRS Bagging (GRSB) has announced that it has reached an agreement to purchase the Cemex Packed Aggregates business in the UK.

This acquisition sees GRSB extend its operations by a further five sites and enter the Scottish and Welsh markets, putting the company firmly in line with its customer demands by providing a full national coverage on bagged and packed aggregate products.

Jon Fisher, GRS Group chief executive officer, said: “At GRSB we are driven by our customers’ growth and demands. We are dedicated to supporting their development into new markets and assisting our supply chain requirements in current markets.

“This acquisition also ensures that as our customers grow and expand in volume and geographic area, we are capable of providing the products and services they need.

Lee Hudson, managing director of GRSB, added: “Part of our business plan was to see GRSB become a national packed product provider by 2016 through acquisition and organic growth. In 2015, the East of England was achieved with the successful purchase of Aggbag and the Blackwater aggregates bagging plant, along with the expansion into Devon and Somerset through our new site at Taunton.

“We have been working hard to ensure that the business has the ability to integrate these acquisitions, while ensuring a smooth transition for its customer base.

“The sales and ordering functions will be provided using the existing GRSB model, which is operated from the central hub at Houghton Regis. It will also compliment our team in our new office in Scotland.

“The central sales and order processing teams will support the local regional managers and sales representatives who will be working closely with our customers to ensure their exacting requirements are met.

“The extensive product range offered by GRSB at its current sites will be extended to all of the new sites, while still offering the service levels our customers have come to expect.”

GRSB is a leading UK producer of packed products and, in 2015, reports it was the only producer with an output in excess of 1.5m tonnes. To compliment the recent growth in sites, the following appointments have also been made.

Phil Cox has been appointed as managing director of GRS production and logistics. Mr Cox will be working with the existing management team to develop the business further in line with the group’s objectives.

Meanwhile, John Bradshaw has been appointed as regional sales manager and national business development. Mr Bradshaw has a wealth of expertise in the aggregates industry, having spent 13 years at Lafarge and three years at an independent packed product company.

Mr Bradshaw will be fundamental in integrating the current Cemex order book and developing business in the north and Scotland.

Mr Hudson concluded: “These appointments will ensure that the high standards of health and safety, production, and sales that our customers enjoy in other parts of our business are replicated right across the country.”