Centurion buys Express Group

Perth-based Centurion Transport has expanded its Western Australian operations by acquiring the company behind South West Express and Great Southern Express.

Express Group has about 100 employees and operates a specialist refrigerated transport business, servicing farmers and supermarkets.

The entire business will be become part of Centurion’s Western Australian operations, maintaining its focus on fresh food and refrigerated transport services.

Chief executive Justin Cardaci said the acquisition was part of Centurion’s broader strategy to expand its operational focus to new industry sectors.

“The Express Group is a great company, and its focus on transporting frozen and chilled goods, dairy, fresh meats and other perishable goods means it services some of WA’s most successful supermarket chains and leading producers,” he said.

The business was established by Mark and Andrea Mazza 27 years ago.

Mr Mazza said he was delighted that the business he and his wife founded would become part of another family owned and operated road transport business.

Mr Cardaci said the Perth to Bunbury route would be an ideal testing ground for Centurion’s move towards alternative fuels and battery technology before deploying them to the company’s northern transport routes.

“Centurion is beginning its carbon reduction journey and we want to be at the forefront of our industry demonstrating that road transport has a significant contribution to make to a low- or no-carbon future.”

The commercial terms of the acquisition are confidential.

Centurion is ranked as the fifth largest trucking and logistics business in WA, according to Business News’s Data & Insights.

It had more than 900 staff in WA prior to the acquisition and has a national fleet of 2,000 vehicles.

It is part of CFC Group, one of WA's largest private companies.