Chatham deal: Evans Wholesale acquires Harold North Trucking

Evans Wholesale has acquired Harold North Trucking, with the Chatham-based companies believing it will bring a positive future to their business.

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Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

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Founded by Harold North in 1972, the trucking company has been run for the last 25 years by brothers Tim and Rick North.

Evans Wholesale was the right choice “to ensure continued employment of all of our staff, and . . . remain a part of the Chatham-Kent community,” Rick North said in a release Friday.

Since Harold North has been in the direct store distribution business, it’s a good fit for Evans, the release said.

Evans Wholesale, a supplier of dairy products, including the full Beatrice line, chips and soft drinks has pursued an “aggressive restructuring program to remain competitive in today’s rapidly changing distribution landscape” for the last six months, the release said.

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In addition to the acquisition, the company named a new president and chief executive, Bill Mathewson.

Evans has launched a new website and customer online ordering portal. It also has partnered with Walker’s Dairy Farm, and the National Network of Wholesalers, to offer as many as 5,000 new products.

“The addition of Harold North Trucking allows us to expand our business footprint, increase the diversity of our offerings and position us for further growth,” Mathewson said in the release.

The acquisition will add in- and outbound refrigerated US freight, and express refrigerated freight, to Evans’ domestic services, the release said.

“Mr. Mathewson brings a new vision and team to the company that will lead Evans in rapid growth and (an) expanded commercial footprint,” company founder Andrew Evans said. “I am excited about the vision of growth and opportunities. . . in front of us.”

Evans added it looks forward to “creating more good-paying, stable jobs for the people of Chatham-Kent, now and well into the future.”

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