WR REFRIGERATION continues to expand with the acquisition of the business and assets of Epsom-based Trembath Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Limited.
Trembath operates throughout the south east, providing design, installation, servicing and maintenance of refrigeration systems to a diverse range of retail and commercial customers. Like WR, it is predominantly involved in food retail and serves a number of major supermarkets including Waitrose, Marks & Spencer, Morrison's and Somerfield - all of whom are also customers of WR.

WR, which celebrated its centenary in 2003, was acquired by Huurre Group Oy of Finland last March. WR now employs in excess of 500 people including more than 300 service and installation engineers, operating from 26 branches throughout the UK. The total includes more than 60 people employed at its Frog Island headquarters. Garry Dick, md of WR Refrigeration, said the acquisition of Trembath presented WR with further scope for expansion and should lead to increased levels of business.

'It enables us to further expand and strengthen our service and contracting capabilities within the UK', he said. 'Purchasing Trembath represents the first acquisition made by WR's new management team and the first for the company since it was bought by Huurre ten months ago. We aim to continue to grow through acquisition as and when the right opportunities arise.'

Trembath was established in 1946, as a main Frigidaire distributor based in Croydon. It installed its first Sainsbury shop in 1963, later setting up its internal catering company, air conditioning company and became a white goods distributor for manufacturers such as Fosters and Williams. The catering business was sold in 1991 and in March 2004 Trembath's Refrigeration and Air Conditioning business moved to new premises in Epsom following the sale of its Air Trembath hire and sale arm to Rapid. The company currently employs more than 50 people.