Companies in the cold storage business have been quite busy over the past few months. New distribution centres have been opened, staff hire and services extended - all designed to stay ahead of the pack as competition for food clients hots up.

Star Refrigeration has completed the installation of a new, high efficiency refrigeration plant for Tesco at its new distribution centre in Livingston, Scotland.

Materials handling and storage equipment company, the Nene Group, has provided a complete racking installation for Samworth Distribution's new chill store extension at its distribution centre in Leicestershire.

As well as reducing heat losses from chilled areas, Seymour Manufacturing's Cold Stop door curtains have another role at Orchard House Foods. With one colour on one side and a different one on the other, they are used to differentiate and remind staff which are high and low risk areas within the production and storage areas of its Corby, Northamptonshire plant.

Meat processor Scotbeef has implemented the Empirica warehouse management system from Chess Logistics Technology at its new distribution cold store at Queenslie, near Glasgow.