A fast growing Leicestershire 4PL transport operator is targeting growth at home and overseas after being acquired by a new technology led logistics group.
X2 (UK) Ltd has been on a steep growth trajectory since the Covid-19 pandemic and has now become part of northstarr, the parent company of pallet network Pallet-Track.
Hinckley based X2 is now one of four companies operating under the northstarr umbrella, alongside Pallet-Track, flexible warehousing specialist Sqrrl Solutions and cloud based transport management provider Truckcom.
The launch of northstarr reflects the growing demand in the industry for smarter, data driven, and flexible supply chain solutions.
Ian Cramb, managing director of X2, said his ambition was initially driven by a longer term plan to grow the business independently before bringing it to market.
However, following discussions with northstarr Group CEO, Stuart Godman, it became clear there was a compelling strategic fit, particularly given the opportunity to unlock additional growth through access to wider infrastructure and expertise.
Ian said, ‘We had originally planned to continue growing X2 independently. However, through conversations with industry contacts, it became clear there was a fit with northstarr which we could not ignore.
‘X2 joining northstarr provides immediate access to key growth enablers, including pallet network integration, warehousing capability, European expansion potential, and a broader service offering across the logistics chain.
‘This partnership has allowed us to reinvest in the business, giving our team a meaningful stake in the future and aligning us with a forward thinking group with real ambition.’
Ian said the fit was beneficial on many levels, both operationally and culturally.
‘Joining northstarr gives us greater scale in the market and from an operational perspective, the combined business opens up significant opportunities around technology and process improvement,’ he added.
‘Culturally, it was also a very natural fit, as northstarr operates in the same agile, fast paced way that we do. Decisions are made quickly and there is not the bureaucracy you often see in larger organisations, which was important to us.
‘Ultimately, this partnership allows us to take what was already a successful, growing business and turbocharge it. We can broaden our offering while still retaining the mindset that has got us to where we are.’
Group CEO Stuart Godman said, ‘Bringing X2 into the northstarr family is a hugely exciting step for us, both strategically and propositionally. From our earliest conversations, it was clear that Ian and his team had built something exceptional – a fast growing, agile business with a sharp vision for how modern supply chains should operate. This aligns perfectly with our ambition at northstarr to create a more connected, technology led logistics group that delivers smarter, more responsive solutions for customers.
‘This is about unlocking growth, not just for the businesses within northstarr, but for our customers too, by bringing together expertise, infrastructure and technology in a way that genuinely moves the industry forward.’
