Sitra Group has announced the acquisition of Marlep Tanklogistik GmbH, a Germany-based international transport company specialising in the temperature-controlled transport of liquid raw materials for the food industry.

Founded in 1962, Sitra Group is a family-owned business headquartered in Belgium, with annual turnover exceeding EUR 300 million and a workforce of more than 1,600 employees across 12 countries. The group operates a fleet of over 1,000 owned trucks and approximately 2,500 trailers and containers, including liquid and powder food tankers.

Marlep Tanklogistik is a tanker operator focused on liquid food logistics, generating annual turnover of approximately EUR 30 million. The company employs more than 100 people and operates a fleet of 50 trucks and 70 trailers. Headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, Marlep also maintains a key operating site near Gdańsk, Poland.

Marlep was founded in 2010 by Lars Johannsen, who will exit the business following the transaction, alongside strategic investor Boettger Logistik GmbH. The company will continue to be led by its current managing director, Marlon Roda, ensuring continuity of management and operations.

Commenting on the transaction, Lars Johannsen said that after 15 years of building and growing the business, he was pleased to transfer ownership to Sitra Group, noting the strong alignment between the two companies in terms of values and their shared commitment to delivering first-class customer service in liquid food logistics.

Sitra Group described the acquisition as a further step in line with its strategic growth plan. The quality of Marlep’s operations and service offering was highlighted as a key factor in the decision to bring the company into the Sitra Group.

Sitra Group is owned by the Saelens family and Creafund, an evergreen investment company that became a shareholder in 2021. The group has set an ambition to reach EUR 500 million in annual turnover in the coming years through a combination of organic growth and a buy-and-build strategy. Recent acquisitions have included Ricotto in Italy, Abbey Logistics Group in the United Kingdom and Albert Keijzer in the Netherlands.

The addition of Marlep strengthens Sitra Group’s operational capabilities and represents a significant geographical expansion of its European network. The group has extended a warm welcome to Marlon Roda and the Marlep team, expressing its intention to work closely together to further enhance service offerings for customers across Europe.

Sitra Group was advised on the transaction by Scouting Capital Advisors as M&A adviser and Rödl as legal, tax and financial adviser and due diligence provider. Marlep was advised by Nachfolge 360 as M&A adviser and Hogan Lovells as legal adviser.

For more information visit www.sitra-group.com