Rapid Racking acquired by Manutan

ECMOD Award winner in the "Best Business to Business mail order organisation in the Warehouse, Materials Handling, Packaging" category Rapid Racking has been acquired by France-based Manutan Group. Manutan, which also owns commercial and industrial supplies catalogue Key Industrial in the UK, said this latest acquisition was in line with its strategy to “consolidate its position as European leader”. Manutan Group is a distance seller of industrial and office equipment and computer consumables. It operates in 20 European countries through 23 subsidiaries and in the year 2006/07 achieved turnover of €448.8 million (£337.7 million).

Rapid Racking, which offers more than 1,200 storage and accessory products, services more than 80,000 UK customers through its direct sales force, catalogue and website.

A spokesperson told Catalogue/e-business that the decision to sell the business was taken by its main shareholder, Helen Aylward Smith, who felt it was “time to move on and let someone else take Rapid Racking to the next level of development”.

John Cummings and Mark Hobbs, the incumbent directors, will remain with the business as joint managing directors and will report directly to the Manutan head office in Paris. There are no planned changes to the Rapid Racking brand identity. The spokesperson added that all 100 Rapid Racking employees will remain in place at the current premises in Kemble, Gloucestershire.