History

Over the years the company has successfully developed both nationally and globally, with a focus on providing bulk transportation services to the chemical industry under the Suttons UK Tankers and Suttons International names.  

From the day that Alf started trading from his horse and cart in 1926, Suttons Group has remained family-owned and members of the Sutton family are still very much involved in the business. Throughout nearly 100 years of trading, safety and customer service has always been at the heart of how we operate.

Timeline 

1926 – Suttons Group founder, Alf Sutton, begins trading from a single horse and cart. 

1954 – Suttons Group begins a period of rapid growth as the road transport business starts to develop. 

1967 – Suttons Group expands into specialist transport for bulk gases and chemicals.

1974 – Suttons Group become the first company to offer electrical heating on tank containers. 

1981 – Suttons Group opens its first sales office in the United States of America. 

1997 – Suttons International opens its first office in China. Thanks to the success of this office, the company has gone on to open a further five offices in the country. 

2008 – Suttons Road Tankers begins operating within the food sector. 

2011 – Suttons Road Tankers is awarded the ‘Safety in Operation Award’ from Motor Transport for the fourth time – an achievement that has not been matched by many. 

2012 – Suttons International forms a joint venture with Arabia Chemical Terminals to create Suttons Arabia. 

2013 – John Sutton is appointed Group Chief Executive Officer.

2013 – Suttons Group acquires Shanghai-based Han Chi Logistics Co. Ltd. and begins trucking operations in China. 

2014 – Suttons Group acquires trucking and supply chain company – IS Logistics Group (ISLG) – in Singapore. 

2014 – Suttons Group acquires Imperial Tankers to further strengthen its transport capabilities within the United Kingdom. 

2018 – Suttons Road Tankers acquires Bullards Ltd. 

2018 – Suttons Group updates its historical branding. 

2019 – Suttons Road Tankers acquires DHL Supply Chain’s bulk chemical business.