01.12.2021

Briggs acquires Forkway

Briggs Equipment UK has acquired materials handling dealer, Forkway from owners Martin Fletcher and Richard Greaves.
Established in 1961, Forkway operates from three locations in England, Amersham, Dewsbury and Southampton, and has been a Yale dealer since 2008, but also offers Faraone and the Hugo low level platforms, as well as Ausa compact telehandlers.

In the late 1970s the company began to expand its business, becoming one of the first UK dealers for Nissan (Datsun) fork trucks, then opening a branch in Yorkshire in 1992, acquiring Solent Forklift Truck in 1998. The company generated revenues of £12.2 million in 2020, with a pre-tax profit of £730,000 and a tangible net worth of £2.86 million.
Please register to see all images

the Forkway premises in Amersham

Briggs managing director Pete Jones said: “With the acquisition of Forkway, we are delighted to have brought a strong and long standing business partner fully within the Briggs group. Their skilled employees, extensive customer portfolio and synergy with our own customer base means they are a further valuable addition to the group. We continue to build on our recent acquisition activity and this latest deal underlines our ambition and focus to grow the group and ultimately provide unrivalled service and coverage to our customers. Forkway has a proven track record of success that’s been built over a number of decades and whilst we will expand the overall capability of the business, we also recognise the importance of nurturing and protecting those unique and long-lasting customer partnerships.”

“As with all our acquisitions, we want to work with businesses that share the same values and culture as ourselves and through our experience of working with the team at Forkway, we’re confident that they will be quickly become an integral part of Briggs Equipment. We look forward to welcoming the Forkway team into our business, working closely with them and providing the appropriate investment and support to ensure the company can continue to prosper and fulfil its huge potential.”

Forkway's Richard Greaves added: “This acquisition will allow our business to accelerate its development as part of a values orientated, industry recognised and highly successful organisation. The positive culture and ambition that runs throughout Briggs will help our people thrive in their roles, whilst delivering key improvements to our product and service offering. I’d like to thank everyone involved with the acquisition for their hard work and we’re now looking forward to settling in and establishing Forkway as a key part of the Briggs Equipment group.”