Group to acquire United distributor

THE Co-operative Group has agreed in principle to acquire Norpak Food Services, a wholly-owned subsidiary of United Co-operatives.
Norpak provides distribution services for chilled and frozen foods to United Co-operatives retail stores throughout the North Midlands, the North West and North Wales from its cold store depot at Cold Meece, Staffordshire.
It also provides a range of warehouse and distribution services to private clients from its coldstore in Eccleshall, Staffordshire.
All 250 Norpak staff will transfer to Co-operative Group under their existing terms of employment, once the deal ? which is subject to a due diligence investigation ? is confirmed.
Norpak will continue to supply temperature-controlled foods to Co-op stores as part of a wider network of depots operated by ACC Distribution, the Co-operative Group&#039s distribution operation.
It will also continue to offer a range of commercial storage and distribution facilities for its existing clients throughout the UK.