- Deal builds on record two-year run for the Ballymena and Birmingham-headquartered group, bringing together two operational teams that have worked alongside one another for many years.
TST Group, the Ballymena and Birmingham-headquartered logistics and supply chain group, has acquired GCS Logistics, the Heathrow-based specialist in UK-Ireland express distribution, white-glove services and complex technical logistics. GCS Logistics generates annual turnover of approximately £10 million and employs 60 people.
The acquisition gives TST Group a strategic operational base at the heart of global trade at Heathrow and completes a genuinely end-to-end offering spanning freight forwarding, customs clearance, warehousing, distribution and specialist technical handling.
It builds on the Midlands footprint established through TST Group’s 2021 acquisition of Warley Carriers, and brings together two businesses that have collaborated closely for many years. Founded in Ballymena, Co. Antrim in 2013, TST Group has grown from a family transport operation into an integrated third-party logistics provider employing more than 400 people, with a fleet of over 300 trucks and 500 trailers and 1.5 million square feet of warehousing. The group’s integrated model gives customers one trusted partner for transport, warehousing, customs and distribution, removing the complexity of managing multiple suppliers. The GCS Logistics acquisition adds a Heathrow hub and brings specialist express distribution and white-glove capability that extends what TST Group can offer its manufacturing, retail and FMCG customers alongside its existing transport, warehousing and customs services.
The deal also strengthens TST Group’s international freight capability at a time when the group is expanding into Ireland, with Dublin marking the first step in a long-term ambition to establish a presence across the island. GCS Logistics’ Heathrow base and technical handling expertise are expected to support that expansion by giving TST Group a stronger platform for moving freight across borders for customers on both sides of the Irish Sea.
Record two-year growth
The GCS Logistics deal comes on the back of a period of sustained growth for TST Group, delivering 32% organic growth over two years. With further acquisitions currently underway, TST Group is positioned to surpass £50 million in annual revenue in FYE27, with GCS Logistics expected to be a significant contributor to that growth.
Shaun Reid, Group Operations Director of TST Group, said: “What makes this acquisition particularly exciting is that, for many of us, these are not new relationships. Our operational teams have worked alongside the GCS team for many years, delivering for shared customers and building mutual trust and respect along the way. We have always admired their professionalism, attention to detail and commitment to customer service, and they have come to know our team in exactly the same way.
“Because those relationships are already in place, this integration feels like a natural progression rather than a new beginning. Both businesses share the same values, the same work ethic and the same determination to deliver for customers every day. Bringing our teams together creates even greater opportunities to learn from one another, share expertise and continue building a business that our people are proud to be part of. I have no doubt the strong relationships we have built over the years will only grow stronger as we move forward together.”
TST Group was assisted in the transaction by Michael McAllister of ASM Chartered Accountants and Glenn Watterson of Mills Selig Solicitors.