FDBusiness.com

AGRO Merchants Group, a global leader in cold storage and logistics solutions, has successfully completed the first phase of rebranding of their portfolio companies to one common brand name. Rebranding of the businesses better reflects AGRO’s position in the marketplace, its true geographical reach and supports further integration and extension of the group’s capabilities.

The first phase of rebranding included all sites of the Sawyers Group and Castlecool Cold Stores on the island of Ireland, located in Lurgan, Portadown, Ballygawley, Dublin, Lough Egish and Castleblayney. Other companies rebranded in the first phase were Harthoorn Logistics and Coldstore Urk, both in the Netherlands, and Nordic Cold Storage, with 10 facilities across the United States.

AGRO currently consists of 22 portfolio companies and 61 facilities in Europe, North America, Latin America and Asia Pacific. The rebranding process will roll out in several phases, with the first two phases to be finalized in 2017.

Sawyers Transport, now AGRO Merchants Lurgan, a leading transport provider in the UK, Ireland and Europe, joined AGRO Merchants Group in 2015. The company operates a fleet of 250 trucks and more than 600 refrigerated and curtain-side trailers.

AGRO Merchants Castleblayney and Lough Egish, previously Castlecool Cold Stores, was the largest 3rd party cold storage company in Ireland. They were acquired by AGRO Merchants in 2014 and have since expanded their service offering by installing the first third party food packing line in Lough Egish.

The two companies are now part of an integrated international network of cold storage and logistics facilities. Their transition to the new name will not affect the company’s operations and customers, but it will underscore the Group’s status of a reliable partner ready to support their clients’ growth strategies. In addition to that, AGRO will be introduced in local communities as an attractive employer offering exceptional career opportunities.

Derek Sawyers, Managing Director of UK & Ireland operations, shared: “We are very proud to be taking on the AGRO Merchants Group name. It is a natural next stage in the development of the company, we are moving forward as one company, one international brand. We will continue to integrate all of our businesses to offer unrivalled solutions to our clients.”