Ahern and Associates works with Echo Global Logistics to fulfill strategic growth initiatives through acquisition of Purple Plum Logistics.

Phoenix, AZ, May 16, 2012“” Continuing their unparalleled momentum within the transportation industry, Ahern and Associates, Ltd., has just recently assisted Echo Global Logistics in the acquisition of Wakefield, MA based, Purple Plum Logistics, LLC.  This exciting news comes on the heels of Ahern’s most recent assignments where the leading firm aided D & E Transport and Roadrunner Transportation in the completion of the transfer of their respective businesses.

Echo Global Logistics engaged the services of Ahern & Associates to assist them in locating a refrigerated transportation broker on the East Coast. Echo Global Logistics is the fastest growing logistics provider in the United States. Echo’s current revenue generates approximately $600MM annually, and should exceed $1 billion annually within the next 12 ““ 18 months.  Echo recently acquired Purple Plum Logistics, LLC  to expand their refrigerated services and offer additional services to their existing customers“”a common trend in transportation today with many companies choosing to expand their service base or take on additional routes through acquisitions.

Founded in July 2008 by Sam Freni, Purple Plum is a non-asset service provider that specializes in temperature-controlled truckload solutions. With this acquisition, Echo expands its sales organization and customer relationships, while further developing its truckload capabilities to include additional temperature-controlled carrier relationships throughout the United States and Canada. Echo clients will now enjoy greater flexibility in tailoring multimodal solutions to the needs of their business.
With a special aptitude toward bringing buyers and sellers together within the transportation industry, Andy Ahern, CEO of Ahern & Associates, Ltd, located an opportunity for Echo which met Echo’s expansion plans and also fit its corporate culture. Ahern successfully located a strategic fit for Echo Global in Purple Plum Logistics, whose owner was also looking for the opportunity to sell specific assets of his business, but wanted to be involved in a larger corporate culture.

“You (Ahern) made it happen, thank you so much–I felt extremely fortunate to be associated with you and your firm and feel very comfortable that I found a business partner that I can continue my career with,“ explained Sam Freni, President of Purple Plum Logistics, LLC

As with every engagement, Ahern takes the time to get personally involved with not just ownership of the parties involved, but also their top executive teams.  This approach coupled with Ahern’s extensive experience within transportation routinely leaves parties feeling like they both executed a fair, win-win deal.

“I have found Echo to be very straight forward in their dealings, very honest, very committed to growth and very people oriented. Echo’s entire business culture is based upon intellectual capital and technology. Purchasing businesses and making the owners business partners, not simply a target for a roll up. Echo’s success is demonstrated by the efforts of its key executive officers,“ explained Ahern.

About Ahern & Associates, Ltd.:
Ahern and Associates is North America’s leading trucking and transportation management consulting firm.  The skilled consultants at Ahern and Associates specialize in mergers and acquisitions of trucking and logistics companies as well as the restructuring and evaluation of existing carriers that seek to increase operating efficiency and improve profitability.  Since 1987, Ahern and Associates has aided hundreds of buyers in the acquisition of trucking and logistics companies throughout the U.S. and Canada as well as assisting many transportation and logistics companies in reducing their overall operating costs and increasing their profitability.  For more information, please call 602-242-1030 or visit http://www.Ahern-Ltd.com

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Business contact:
A.W. Ahern
602-242-1030

Media contact:
Jason W. Jantzen
Phoenix Marketing Associates
http://www.PhoenixMarketingAssociates.com
602-282-0202