News
Ground Control acquires JW Crowther & Son making it the UK’s largest private gritting operator
Ground Control has cemented its position as the country’s biggest private gritting company and winter maintenance provider, with the acquisition of JW Crowther & Son, known as The Gritting Company.
Over the past 160 years, the company gained a reputation for outstanding customer service. Last year the company generated turnover of £7.3m, whilst the previous year “The Beast from the East” saw exceptional revenues of £12.9m as demand drove the need for The Gritting Company services.
The investment will immediately boost the company’s gritting operation by 25% and means it will now service over 8,000 different locations.
Simon Morrish, CEO of Ground Control said:
“The union of these two family-owned businesses offers the opportunity to combine our extensive knowledge and expertise with innovation and technology to further develop our service offering and ensures we can achieve consistently exceptional customer service in a rapidly changing industry”.
Nigel Crowther and Paul Crowther, both owners and directors of JW Crowther & Son since 1997, will remain with the business for a transition period to ensure a smooth handover.
Paul Crowther of JW Crowther & Son commented:
“We wanted to find a buyer who understood and respected our business and could continue to drive it forwards following our departure, as well as ensuring our colleagues and customers were left in safe hands.
“Ground Control’s focus on the customer, health and safety and the wellbeing of their employees, combined with their passion for the environment, made them the obvious choice”.
“I am looking forward to working for Ground Control and the opportunity to expand our existing service,” said Michael Crowther, Sales Director of the Gritting Company. “By joining our experience and technology, and through Ground Control’s range of services, I believe we can create real extra benefits for our existing and new clients.”
