Cappagh Insights
Express Concrete: How a Business Friendship Built a £40 Million Company
The story behind one of the Cappagh Group's fastest-growing businesses.
Express Concrete Ltd is a part of the Cappagh Group of Companies that grew out of a business friendship forged more than 25 years ago — and it is now one of the Group's most successful and fastest-growing businesses, approaching £40 million in annual turnover.
The story begins in 1992, when Michael Ferncombe of Cappagh opened a trading account with London Concrete, where Chris Casey and his brother Derek worked. The business relationship flourished, and over the years Michael often raised the idea of going into concrete together. "When are we going to start Cappaghcrete together?" became almost a standing joke between them — except it was very serious.
The time finally became right in 2015, when Chris, Michael, Tom Ferncombe and Derek — who came out of retirement to take on a part-time Chairman role — founded Express Concrete Ltd. The first batching plant at Ripple Road, Barking, opened in June 2017 and was followed by further plants in Erith, Wembley, Chessington and — with planning permission recently granted — Plumstead, which could be producing concrete by the end of 2026.
All aggregates are supplied by rail, in conjunction with DCRail, reducing the need for road deliveries and underlining the Group's commitment to sustainable logistics.
Chris Casey, Managing Director of Express Concrete, said: "The Cappagh Group is all about family and business relationships and that's something to celebrate. After the loss earlier this year of our founder Tom Ferncombe, the team at Express Concrete are even more determined to grow and develop the business further in his memory."
