Cold Service Group has expanded with the successful purchase of Central Refrigeration and Air Conditioning.
The Shrewsbury-based firm, Central Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, provide refrigeration and air-conditioning service, maintenance and small scale equipment installation for a range of customers in the retail, commercial office, leisure and industrial sectors across the West Midlands. With an annual turnover of £3 million, Central is an established major player in its local market. The company is headed by managing director Jason Bennett, who will continue to lead the business as part of the Cold Service Group.

In a separate move, Andrew Baxendine has been appointed as new group managing director of the Cold Service Group as part of the expansion plans, with the shape of the senior management team also changing to see Adrian Westrup promoted to commercial director, Peter Cutcliffe becoming engineering director, Gary Mallet moving to service director and Danny Ryan taking on the role of operations director at the business.

Chairman Peter Grimes is excited about the future, he said: 'We are expanding geographically and organically as part of a clearly thought-through, strategic growth plan. This is helping us step upwards and outwards, allowing us to deal more effectively and productively with our customers in the major supermarket chains, commerce and industry. At the same time, we are earning well-deserved national recognition for the quality of the services we provide'.

Andrew Baxendine, the new group managing director said the new acquisition will help improve service to customers, he said: 'It will help us provide a local, personalised service to an extended geographical area and build new customer relationships in the Midlands with the potential of growing our business nationally. Central has an excellent reputation and represents a great fit within the larger Cold Service Group'.

'These developments show that Cold Service is in great shape for 2011 and beyond' sums up Peter Grimes. 'We are looking forward to the future with great confidence and believe that we are well set up to prosper at a national and local level in these challenging economic times.'