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Baldwins Travel acquired by business group Inc & Co
The future of one of UK’s oldest travel agencies has been secured after a multi-million-pound takeover of Baldwins Travel, by business group Inc & Co.
Established over 120 years ago, the Tunbridge Wells-headquartered company currently employs more than 50 staff across eight branches, all of which will be protected under the move to the new owner.
Baldwins has a high street presence across Sussex and Kent.
The new owners say the investment will allow it to navigate its way out of the difficulties presented to the sector during the pandemic.
Originally a bookbinder and stationer that started selling rail tickets, Baldwins grew to become one of the largest travel operators across the South Coast; now with a high street agency presence in Tunbridge Wells, Cranbrook, Lewes, Maidstone, Sevenoaks, Tenterden, Tonbridge and Uckfield.
Jack Mason, Group CEO of Inc & Co, said: "We’re really excited to announce Inc & Co’s acquisition of Baldwins Travel, and we’ll be warmly welcoming the brand into our growing portfolio of businesses.
"Although it’s been a difficult year for the wider sector, we’re delighted to be in a position to secure the futures of Baldwins’ employees and branches across Kent and Sussex.
"Since our founding in 2019, we’ve grown the number of businesses we oversee and our employee headcount, from just 5 to 750 across 15 brands. We’re really excited to bring Baldwins’ established brand heritage into the Inc & Co family," he added.
Inc & Co’s expertise in digital and e-commerce will help ‘to re-ignite Baldwins’ offering and help the team to accommodate pent-up holiday demand.’
Inc & Co will assume any existing payments due, with tour operators receiving all monies owing and all customers will be refunded any outstanding payments.
Chris and Nick Marks – former Baldwins owners – will remain within the business.
"Being a family-owned and run business, we’ve had many very happy years at the helm of Baldwins. We have benefitted from fabulous long-lasting relationships with our customers, our team members and our trade suppliers," they said.
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