The Ice Co Storage & Logistics details plans for expansion

The business recently invested over £1m to improve the warehouse plant, blast freezers and automated racking to increase storage capacity at its head office site in South Kirkby, West Yorkshire. There has also been investment in its logistics fleet, with 16 new Scania vehicles.

Managing director Paul Martin outlined why this was the right time to invest. “We have a lot of potential across our four sites, and we want to invest and utilise this space and our resources as well as we can,”​ he explained.

‘Positive savings’​

“We are already seeing the return on the investments. The new fleet has seen positive savings in fuel efficiencies and the automated racking has doubled capacity within the chamber. ​

“Further investment such as LED lighting in stores, energy-saving doors, solar panels and a wind turbine all contribute towards improved efficiencies within the business.”​

He added this was just the beginning of planned investments for the business, which has increased profitability year-on-year for the past three years.

‘Bigger five-year plan’​

“We have always looked at how to invest to improve our service and efficiencies, and the recent investment is the start of a much bigger five-year plan and vision in which we plan to invest a further £20m in the business in order to double capacity across The Ice Co Storage & Logistics group.”​

The second stage of its five-year plan will include the investment of £2m to improve racking and create an additional 20% pallet capacity at its South Kirkby depot, the firm said.

Meanwhile, a Lincolnshire seafood supplier is to open a new factory and expand its global network after securing an eight-figure bank loan.​​