Watch Now


Samskip buys reefer company Icepak

Samskip buys reefer company Icepak

Samskip has acquired the reefer logistics company Icepak, which has offices in the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Jersey and Seattle in the United States. Financial details were not disclosed.

   Icepak has been operating for 15 years under the primary ownership of Debbie Woodliffe, Holly Coble and Paul Dean. All three will stay with the business and on the company's board, which will now also include Peder Winther, chief executive officer of Samskip Reefer and Forwarding Logistics, and Simon Dwyer, managing director of Samskip U.K. Woodliffe will join the Samskip Reefer and Forwarding Logistics board based in Rotterdam.

   'The Icepak business, its staff and shareholders will bring considerable experience and knowledge to our expanding global reefer logistics product,” Winther said.

   “Icepak will strengthen our global footprint and assist with our overall development plans, particularly within the U.S., Australia, Asian, South American and U.K. markets.'

   Icepak shareholder Woodliffe said of the sale: 'We feel the time is right for our business and the shareholders to have a like-minded partner to enhance our network and provide the necessary platform to complement our future growth plans.'

   The acquisition of Icepak follows other recent Samskip purchases including Dutch multimodal transport company Geest North Sea Line, British short sea operator Seawheel and reefer centers from the Netherlands-based Kloosterboer in 2005. Previously, Samskip had acquired Van Dieren Maritime and a 40 percent share in Silver Sea.