HB RTS announces the acquisition of CC European Retail

12 May 2022

Utrecht, The Netherlands

HB RTS (HB) announces today that it has completed the acquisition of 100% of CC European Retail (CC-Retail), a leading rental and pooling provider of returnable transport items (RTIs) in the European food supply chain, from the Danish private equity fund Erhvervsinvest.

The acquisition increases HB’s available fleet of assets to 9 million RTIs and significant expands the scope of the HB footprint and solutions for its client base. The combined business now has pan-European operations and offers a wide range of RTI rental, washing and logistics solutions, with core segments being reusable crates, pallets and rolling RTIs. Through this strategic step, HB will continue to find more efficient and cost-effective RTI solutions for its diverse customer base.

André van Brummen, CEO of CC-Retail: “After a very exiting period, creating a stand-alone company, together with Erhvervsinvest, we now have a company which is ready for further international development. We are very happy with this opportunity that provides the possibility for faster growth and development of new products and operational services for our customers.”

Léon Rust, CEO of HB: “We are very excited about this transaction. The companies both have their own strengths and are highly complementary. Together we can offer customers a more diversified and complete “one-stop shop” and truly unburden them when it comes to RTIs across Europe. CC-Retail is an important add-on in the strategy of HB.” 

About HB

HB, founded in 2008, provides an integrated offering of RTI rental, washing and logistics services to a diverse and blue-chip customer base in the Dutch food and beverage supply chain, ensuring the safe and sustainable transport of consumable products from suppliers to consumers. The main RTIs handled by HB are plastic crates and pallets, which serve as essential load carriers for products being transported from production locations to distribution centres, foodservice outlets and supermarkets across the Netherlands.

These reusable load carriers are critical assets within the circular economy, ensuring reliable and efficient transport, while minimising the use of single-use, one-way packaging in a variety of fast-moving supply chains. With an asset pool of 2.8 million RTIs and a network of 10 strategically located washing and logistics facilities across the country, HB provides vital RTI logistics infrastructure and an integrated one-stop shop solution for its customers.