AGRO Merchants Group, Alpharetta, Ga., acquired UK-based Grocontinental Ltd. This transaction reinforces AGRO's position as a leading cold storage and logistics provider in the United Kingdom and Ireland, deepens its commodity expertise and substantially enhances its value-added service offerings. David Grocott and Linda Grocott, third-generation owners of Grocontinental, will continue to lead the business as joint managing directors.

Grocontinental provides cold storage and logistics services to the food industry with a particular expertise in the dairy and meat sectors. Based in Whitchurch, Shropshire, Grocontinental operates from a purpose-built, 35-acre complex with a warehouse capacity of 197,000 pallets and owned transport solutions. The business offers a range of specialist services, including cheese cutting, blast freezing, ingredient sorting, de-boxing and re-boxing, shrink wrapping, barcoding, labeling and export packing. Multi-temperature storage is available from -28°C to 12°C. Grocontinental's quality management system and effective process control is applied throughout the business at every level. It also holds a number of industry accreditations and export approvals, including customs approved storage, BRC global standard for storage and distribution, BRC global standard for food safety and SEDEX.

"This transaction is the culmination of a process that for me began more than three years ago," says Carlos Rodriguez, chief executive officer of AGRO Merchants Group. "When we founded AGRO in 2013, I quickly identified Grocontinental as the ideal potential partner in England to join our network. This is not just due to its market leading position, high-quality assets and deep commodity expertise. I was most drawn to the culture and values of the Grocott family, their commitment to the local community and the long-standing relationships with customers and employees. We could not be more pleased to welcome Linda, David and the entire Grocontinental team to AGRO Merchants Group."

The large cold storage capacity in Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and England, together with expertise in all commodity types and a strong transportation network, positions AGRO as a market leader providing unique value-added solutions.    

"Joining AGRO Merchants Group is great news for Grocontinental,” says Linda and David Grocott. “We are very proud of the progression and success we have achieved over the years, and now we have an excellent opportunity to take the company into a new and exciting era. To move Grocontinental into a larger group is not a decision we have taken lightly. We have been very impressed with AGRO's ambitions, the strength and depth of its structure and expertise and its respect for our 76-year family-owned business heritage. We are looking forward to being part of the future success of the group and continuing to grow our business at Grocontinental."