Ice supplier J Marr Group goes green with major investment

ICE supplier and temperature-controlled storage firm J Marr Group has created 38 jobs with the help of a grant as part of a major green investment.

Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership granted the firm £164,000 which helped the firm to purchase a wind turbine.

It was part of a £368,000 investment made by J Marr to bring in green energy systems.

Large amounts of electricity are used to keep their products frozen and now J Marr’s cold stores consume every bit of electricity the wind turbine produces, cutting costs at its site in South Kirkby, which includes the largest ice factory in Europe.

The investment has also funded the purchase of LED lighting throughout all the cold stores at the site, reducing heat and electricity waste.

Malcolm Dufton, a director of J Marr, said that the cost reductions have helped increase the workforce and this has helped to increase the client base for the business and we can focus on product development to grow the business further.

“Our ice products are seasonal and as a business we have to be flexible. The grant has allowed a vital investment to take place to reduce costs and increase output. There are future plans to further reduce the electricity the business uses, with the introduction of solar panels throughout the site and fast doors with air curtains installed in our cold stores. We are also looking to expand further with plans to increase our European exports.

Roger Marsh OBE, chairperson of the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership, said:”We are delighted to have been able to assist in creating a significant number of jobs in the region as well as supporting a company become more energy efficient in their day to day business.”