NW team’s buy-in at Finnish chiller firm

FINNISH refrigeration specialist has sold a majority stake in its UK business to a management team.

Norpe’s UK business is based in Stockport and specialises in providing display refrigeration cabinets, bar chillers and ice machines to supermarkets, shops, pubs and other leisure facilities.

Existing UK managing director Kevin Raworth and technical manager John Hartley have led the deal and have been will be joined by business partners Craig Daniels and Chris Syddall as the four new shareholders.

Mr Daniels owns Movers Transport which has provided Norpe with its distribution and logistics for even years, while Mr Syddall has been involved in the retail, catering and leisure industry for more than 25 years.

Both bring with them an extensive knowledge in key areas of finance, logistics and marketing which will enable Norpe to grow its UK operation.

Norpe UK, which employs eight staff and has a turnover of £2.4m, will continue to operate from its current location and retain the sole distributorship of the complete range of Norpe manufactured products. The new bosses plan to bring service functions back in-house.

Tor Georg Cudrio, chief operating officer of Norpe said: “We are delighted with the new developments in our UK operation and believe these changes will ensure both growth and an improved service to our UK customers with more UK orientated control by a trusted team of professionals who understand the UK refrigeration market intimately.”