PRESS RELEASE
10 July 2019
Wrist Ship Supply, the World’s leading supplier of provision and stores to ships and offshore installations, acquires Antwerp-based Van Hulle.
While Van Hulle will continue operating as a stand-alone business unit, this enhances their market presence and service offering and marks yet another important step in the steady development of Wrist’s global network.
With the acquisition of Van Hulle, Wrist Ship Supply now adds Belgium to its global footprint expanding its presence in the ARA market. Robert Kledal, CEO in Wrist, says “We are looking forward to initiate a great cooperation with Van Hulle and we will for sure benefit both ways from each our experiences in the ship supply market.”
Van Hulle’s experienced management team, with Bart van Hulle in the lead, will continue to run the operation out of Antwerp and Zeebrugge in Belgium, where the former family-owned business has large and modern warehouse and storage facilities, centrally located in the port areas.
Van Hulle is a solid and well-reputed business providing a high customer service to the local market. “With the inclusion in the Wrist Group, Van Hulle will benefit from Wrist’s global setup and scale advantages providing even better opportunities for our customers” says Bart van Hulle, CEO of Van Hulle.
Consolidation of the global ship supply industry
For more than a decade it has been part of Wrist’s strategy to take a leading role in the global consolidation of a traditionally fragmented ship supply industry, typically composed of locally based and often family-owned businesses. Consequently, Wrist is continuously examining various opportunities for further growth, including acquisitions as well as start-ups.
More recent expansions of the Wrist Group’s activities include the acquisition of Klevenberg Shipping Center in 2018 and Garrets International in 2016. In 2017 Wrist added an office in Shanghai, to a large extent targeting new built vessels needing a broad spectrum of provisions and stores before delivery from shipyards to the ship owners.
About Wrist Ship Supply
Wrist Ship Supply is the world’s leading ship and offshore supplier of provisions and stores with a market share around 9%. Wrist offers a global 24/7 service, including handling of owners’ goods, shipping, air freight and related marine services that meet the demands of international organisations as well as local businesses.
From offices around the globe 1,600 Wrist employees take pride in making it easy for customers to receive their supplies – where and when requested – efficiently and at the best possible price. Since 2007, Altor Fund II is the majority shareholder of the Wrist Group.
About Van Hulle
Van Hulle is a global specialist in maritime supplies and services. With over 50 years of experience, they are a reliable one-stop partner for ship and project supplies, maritime catering, worldwide victualling management, spare parts logistics and a wide range of maritime supporting services.
NAVIGATION