Marken acquires three European firms, assessing additional deals: ‘Stay tuned,’ says CEO

18-Jul-2019 - Last updated on 18-Jul-2019 at 13:14 GMT

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Marken has purchased three European logistics firms and is assessing additional locations at which the CEO said it plans to either build or buy.

Marken’s acquisition of Italy-based HRTL as well as HETO and Der Kurier in Austria and Hungary, respectively, increases the company’s site network to 51, including 10 good manufacturing practice (GMP) qualified clinical storage depots.

Marken CEO Wes Wheeler said the acquisitions make “good business sense” for the company given the large number of shipments exported from Italy, Hungary, and Austria. “Italy is a particularly important market for outbound services given the high concentration of sterile drugs produced in that country,” he told us.

Marken will offer its hybrid services – which uses UPS' network and airline – to and from gateway airports in Rome, Milan, Vienna, and Budapest.

The acquisition will see the addition of 30 new employees dedicated to clinical logistics. This also will further expand Marken’s direct to/from patient operations to these countries, giving the company more direct control of the drivers calling on patient’s homes.

As for future acquisition plans, Wheeler said the company is “always looking to strengthen its network around the world.”

“We analyze data sources to determine where the patients are being recruited from and then assess if it makes good business sense to have a direct operation there,” he explained.

Marken is currently in the process of assessing an additional three to four locations at which it plans to either build or buy. Said Wheeler, “Stay tuned for further announcements.”