Our History

1960s: Founder, Eddie Stobart, goes into business as an agricultural contractor in the isolated Lake District village of Hesket Newmarket/Caldbeck.

1970: The business incorporates, becoming Eddie Stobart Limited, on 23 November.

1970s: Eddie Stobart’s son, Edward, drives the Company’s transition from an agricultural contracting business into road transport and warehousing, building a solid reputation across north west England.

1979: Eddie’s youngest son, William, leaves school to join the growing family business.

80s/90s: The business expands significantly, opening depots across the UK. This consistent, rapid growth helped make Eddie Stobart one of the UK’s best known brands.

2001: William leaves Eddie Stobart Limited to become a shareholding Director in Andrew Tinkler’s rail-based infrastructure engineering business, WA Developments.

2004: WA Developments International, a holding company that is jointly owned by Andrew Tinkler and William Stobart, acquires Eddie Stobart Limited. William and Andrew implement significant changes that re-focus the business on core values and profitability, improving environmental awareness and introducing a revolutionary new costing model.

2005: Large investment is made in IT infrastructure in conjunction with the development of a key management team and the introduction of a striking new livery for the fleet.

2006: The first Stobart Rail freight service is launched.

2007: The LSE-listed Stobart Group Limited is formed through a reverse merger with Westbury Property Fund Limited.

2007: Stobart Group acquires the O’Connor Ports business, including its Widnes railhead and container handling facility.

2008: The successful rail infrastructure engineering business, WA Developments, is
acquired by the Group.

2008: The acquisition of James Irlam Logistics further extends Stobart Group’s transport and warehouse offering.

2008: Innovate’s chilled business is acquired from administration, heralding a strategic move for the Group into fresh and chilled food transport.

2008: The Group acquires London Southend Airport.

2009: Stobart Group enters the FTSE 250 category of leading businesses.

2009: Carlisle Lake District Airport is acquired, with the aim of providing a new northern base for the business and extending Group interests in airport service

2009: Stobart Rail launches its first international rail freight service operating between Valencia, Spain, and the UK.

2010: Stobart Group plc takes a controlling interest in a major new joint venture with AW Jenkinson Forest Products, ‘Stobart Biomass Products Limited’, which will source and process sustainable Biomass Fuels for the modern low-carbon power generation industry.

2010: Eddie Stobart celebrates its 40th Anniversary on 23 November 2010.

2011: Stobart Group takes full control of Stobart Biomass.

2011: Edward Stobart, driving force behind the early expansion of the company and key player in the development of the UK transport industry passes away, aged 56 on 31 March.

2011: Stobart’s Envirotrailer proposal gets the go ahead by the Government on October 11, heralding substantial potential reductions in traffic, pollution through increased LGV load volumes.

2012: Acquisition of vehicle logistics company Autologic Holdings plc.