Groundhog acquires its long-term UK distributor

Groundhog UK Ltd, a manufacturer of mobile welfare units based in South Wales, has acquired its long-term distributor, Genquip Ltd.

Groundhog acquired Genquip on 1 Nov 2024. Photo: Groundhog

Groundhog said the acquisition will help improve its customer service and manage its business more efficiently.

The two companies have worked in partnership for over 30 years, with Groundhog specialising in manufacturing and Genquip specialising in sales and customer service.

Genquip was established by the late Dennis Hughes in 1993 to assist Groundhog chief executive officer Paul Ratcliffe’s business and leverage sales into the UK hire market.

A team headed by Paul’s son, Ryan Ratcliffe, will carry out all operations, including customer service, manufacturing, spare parts, sales, and training, from the Groundhog’s new headquarters in Aberdulais, South Wales.

Groundhog’s Peter Beach will continue to be the sales and marketing director, and his son Harry Beach will be the sales manager. The company’s Llyr Hopkin will become the development and operations manager, overseeing the manufacturing process and working closely with the design department on new product development.

A statement on the Groundhog LinkedIn page thanked Hughes and former director Josh Llewellyn for “all their hard work over the years. Groundhog will continue to ensure that it remains at the forefront of the UK welfare industry.”

Speaking to IRN, Llewellyn said the deal allows the MHM/Gaia team to “focus completely on delivering on the net zero strategy.” When asked why now was the right time to sell the company, he said, “There was a new dynamic management team maturing and emerging, which I think could take the business on in a better way.

“The management team have been coached for a number of years and will now take it on to bigger and better things.”

The official acquisition date is 1 November 2024.