Ruined the industry really. Made it a race to the bottom and then went **** up in the end anyway.
Actually the Stobart family dragged haulage out of the Stone Age, introduced efficiency's across the board and raised the image, standards and professionalism of the industry like no others, I worked for ESL for over a decade and have nothing but fond memories of a good employer who didn't cut corners and demanded high standards, yes it ultimately went down hill but not under the ownership of the Stobart family.
The business ultimately failed after the Stobart family sold the business to venture capitalists who - as they do - asset stripped the company , selling depots and warehouses for cash and subsequently leasing the assets back to the company which saddled it with enormous debts, this - despite growing turnover - eventually brought the business to the brink of bankruptcy which is when Culina group came in and bought the company(s) of Eddie Stobart.
They also brought William Stobart back in to the business where he remains a director.
There is a perception in the industry that they put a lot out of business, yes they did by as I say bringing in efficiencies and economy of scale that smaller companies didn't follow and paid the price, its business unfortunately and they were very good at it.
In instances where they couldn't beat their competitors (Such as James Irlam Logistics) they worked together, sharing contracts and depots, eventually Stobart acquired Irlams but at a high price and just before the 2008 financial crisis, the Irlam family knew just when to sell up!
Stobart is now pretty much just a brand of the Culina group, not what it once was, but, it's wrong to think Stobart was a bad thing in haulage, quite the opposite I'd say.
What a lot of people don't realise is Stobart has effectively been reborn under a different name - WS Transportation - which is ran by Ed Stobart, son of William - Eddie Stobarts grandson.
logistics for the construction industry and high and heavy transport
wstransportation.com
WS Transportation was formed in April 2014 by William Stobart and his son Edward Stobart. William is a co-founder of Eddie Stobart Ltd and is still involved with Eddie Stobart as a shareholder and adviser.
