Cowans Group and Statco join forces

Two major south-east based business service suppliers have joined forces through the merger of the Cowans Group and Statco, formerly known as The Stationery Company.
The unified business will now operate from Cowans’ headquarters in Waltham Abbey, Essex.
Statco, formerly based in Redbourn, Hertfordshire, specialises in business gifts, office furniture and supplies, print and design, plain and printed envelopes and workwear. The company also offers products such as IT consumables, business machines, catering and cleaning supplies, premises management solutions, and health and safety items.
Cowans Group provides a total solution for education, facilities management, interiors, managed services, offices, print and workwear. The group is a member of global buying consortium BPGI.
Setting out the reasons for the marriage, Tony Hatchett, former Statco managing director and now commercial director of the merged organisation, said: “We have largely complementary product ranges. Our specialisms include lines which Cowans didn’t previously offer and my team have the related knowledge and supplier contacts.
“Other reasons for uniting included that we’re both members of the Integra global buying group and major customers of VOW, the UK’s largest business products and facilities supplies wholesaler.”
Tony said that perhaps the most important reason for the merger, however, was that the two organisations were like-minded and he shared a common approach to business, current and future, with Kevin Foot, Cowans’ managing director.
He said: “I’ve known virtually since we began talking about merging at around the beginning of the year that Cowans would be a perfect fit for us.”
Kevin Foot said it was a delight to have Tony and his colleagues as part of the team. “We’ve known about, and greatly respected, Statco for many years and the fact that our two organisations are now partners, means the future for all concerned, including, of course, our employees and customers, will be even brighter.
“I believe our merged organisation will prove a hugely formidable force in our chosen markets, not just in the south-east but on a national scale too.”