The Sutton and Broadhurst families said they completed the sale of their interest in Widnes-based Suttons Tankers Holdings Limited and its trading subsidiary, Suttons Tankers Limited, to Schenk Tanktransport, a tank transport company based in the Netherlands.

Suttons Tankers comprises all UK-based road tanker operations previously owned by the family.

“However, this transaction does not affect the European and global ISO-tank operations of Suttons International Limited, which remain fully owned by the family,” said Suttons.

“The family has retained ownership of Suttons International to maintain an undivided focus on its continued growth and expansion, under the stewardship of the existing management team led by CEO John Sutton.

“The decision to sell the UK Tankers Domestic business reflects a clear strategic focus on strengthening the family’s global business in ISO-tank transport and logistics.

“With its international presence and deep expertise, Suttons International plays a critical role in serving clients worldwide, and the family is fully dedicated to building upon this position.”

Schenk Tanktransport, specialising in the transportation of liquid food, chemicals, gas, and biofuels, operates across several European locations, including the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, and Germany.

The acquisition of Suttons Tankers enables Schenk to extend its reach both geographically and across new product sectors, while Suttons International will remain focused on delivering market-leading global ISO-tank solutions.

John Sutton said: “After nearly a century in the road transport industry, originally founded by our grandfather Alf Sutton, we are immensely proud to see Suttons Tankers positioned to grow further under Schenk’s ownership.

“Schenk’s values and heritage align closely with ours, making them the right choice to lead the Tankers business into its next phase.

“This sale also allows us to sharpen our focus on the future of Suttons International, a family-owned, globally recognised brand in ISO-tank logistics …

“We extend our deepest gratitude to the entire Tankers team for their dedication over the years. We are confident they will thrive within the Schenk family, while we concentrate our efforts on further expanding and strengthening Suttons International to better serve our global customers.”