City Refrigeration spreads wings as Mercury takes flight
Leading facilities management services company City Refrigeration Holdings has announced plans for further expansion of its pub refurbishment arm, Mercury Building Services.
Mercury, which operates via a network of offices across the UK, currently employs over 100 specialist trades people to service a portfolio of blue-chip clients in the licensed trade sector.
The company is now planning further recruitment and expansion to augment its existing teams of painters and decorators, electricians, joiners, upholsterers and project managers.
The announcement comes on the back of a sustained period of success in the sector for Mercury. In the last 12 months the company has carried out refurbishment of over 300 pubs for the Spirit Group and 20 properties for the 1&7 Pub Company. Mercury has also just begun a three-month refurbishment programme on more than 100 pubs in the Unique chain.
Steve Curran, Client Relationship Director for City Refrigeration, said: "The success which our Mercury division has been enjoying is deserved recognition for the high quality of service which the team is able to deliver.
"Our existing clients clearly value the fact that our network of offices across the UK enables us to offer a truly national project management service which meets their needs.
"Having our own directly employed trades people ensures our team can handle refurbishment projects on any scale from pub locals to hotels and children's play barns. By recruiting additional quality people we will be able to grow Mercury Building Services even further and build on the success we are already enjoying in the licensed sector."
City Refrigeration Holdings employs nearly 8500 people and has a turnover of over £170 million. In 2002, City was listed by The Sunday Times Fast Track 100 Survey as one of the fastest growing UK companies. The company is a leading provider of facilities management services including building maintenance services to multi site operations. City also specialises in the provision of refrigeration and technical services for the licensed trade, covering drink dispense, cellar cooling, maintenance, repair and rental ofequipment.
The company was founded in Glasgow in 1985 by Susan and Willie Haughey. Over the next 10 years, City became the leading service provider to the licensed trade throughout Scotland and the North East of England, servicing major clients such as Bass, Scottish Brewers and Belhaven.
In 1996, diversification into other sectors resulted in the purchase of several Scottish companies covering plumbing, electrical and building services. These acquisitions provided the perfect platform for City to enter the facilities management arena.
In 1997 City was chosen to provide facilities management services to 47 Asda stores in Scotland and the North East of England. Recognising the commitment to service delivery, call centre capabilities, IT support and cost control, in 1998 Asda awarded City a 5 year, nationwide facilities management contract covering all stores within the UK. Asda in due course awarded City a 10 year nationwide contract in 2001.
City also provides total facilities management services to over 1000 Spirit Group pubs, clubs and restaurants. Other clients include Anheuser- Busch, Mitchells & Butlers, Interbrew, Scottish and Newcastle and Punch Pub Company.
