Walkers Transport is a UK pallet distribution and third-party logistics (3PL) specialist headquartered in Leeds, with operational sites in Manchester and Lichfield. Founded in 1979 by Nigel Jenkinson as a road haulage business, the company has grown into one of the UK's leading palletised freight operators, handling over a million pallets a year across the UK, Ireland and mainland Europe. It is the operator of the Palletways Northern Super Hub - the only Palletways UK super hub run by a network member - and provides next-day and standard pallet delivery, contract logistics, storage, pick and pack, Amazon fulfilment, hazardous goods handling and international freight forwarding for manufacturers, retailers, wholesalers and distributors. In October 2017 Total Capital Partners funded a c.£20m management buyout led by CEO Richard Simpson, taking a 60% stake. The group expanded in May 2019 with the acquisition of Staffordshire-based M.T.H Express Services (Palletways 51), lifting combined turnover to c.£48m. In May 2026 Walkers Transport Holdings was acquired by WS Holdco, the investment vehicle of logistics entrepreneur William Stobart, alongside London-based Madex Logistics, taking the enlarged WS Holdco group past £400m annual revenue.
Walkers Transport has been acquired
This company is no longer available on our private secondary market.
Company data and valuation marks are estimates and may be incomplete, stale, erroneous, or revised.
Founded
1979
Employees
201–500
Total Funding
$17.55M
1 rounds
Latest Valuation
$0.03B
October 2017
Total raised $17.55M across 1 rounds
Funding data and valuation marks are estimates and may be incomplete, stale, erroneous, or revised.
Last updated 05-21-2026
Latest Round
Type
Management Buyout
Date
October 2017
Amount
£13.5M (~$17.5M)
Valuation
$0.03B
Lead Investors
Jason Scott
Chief Executive Officer
Scott Hobman
Group Operations Director
Chris Burley
Commercial Director
Janine McMaster
Sales Director
Adam Griggs
Chief Financial Officer
David Balfour
Finance Director
Kevin Crookes
IT Director
Rachael Franklin
HR & Marketing Director
Paul Clarke
Fleet Director
Competitor list is illustrative and may be incomplete, stale, or erroneous.
Pall-Ex
UK-headquartered pallet network providing palletised freight distribution across the UK and Europe; direct competitor to Walkers' Palletways-based pallet distribution offering.
Palletforce
Burton-on-Trent-based UK pallet network operator and direct rival to Palletways (Walkers' network), serving 3PLs and SMEs with next-day palletised freight.
The Pallet Network (TPN)
UK pallet distribution network competing for the same B2B palletised freight volumes Walkers handles for manufacturers, retailers and wholesalers.
Wincanton
Large UK 3PL and contract logistics provider (acquired by GXO Logistics in 2024); competes on contract logistics, warehousing and pallet distribution.
Eddie Stobart Logistics
UK haulage and contract logistics brand offering palletised, ambient and contract distribution services - a heritage competitor in the same northern-UK haulage market.
DX Group
UK parcel and irregular-dimension freight operator (DX Freight) offering next-day pallet and parcel services to UK B2B customers.
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