Caravell reborn in the UK
3rd May 2017
UK: Caravell, once one of the UK’s best known commercial refrigeration equipment suppliers, has been reborn and is operating from its former premises in Buckingham.
At least its name has. Now called Caravell Ltd, the new company has been formed by Kassem Traboulsi, owner of commercial refrigeration manufacturer Frost-Tech and UK distributor Eco-Fridge. Although unconnected with the former Caravell UK business, the new business is benefitting from the involvement of Hans Jensen, the former chairman of Caravell UK.
Jensen started Caravell UK in 1983 as a subsidiary of Danish manufacturer Caravell A/S. It grew to be one of the largest UK suppliers of plug-in units, employing 100 people and based in a purpose-built 100,000ft² office and warehouse in Top Angel, Buckingham.
In 2005, with annual sales of around £18m, Hans Jensen was involved in a £9.8m management buy-out from its Danish parent, which had become beset by financial problems. Three years later Caravell UK was sold to the Austrian manufacturer AHT, integrated within AHT’s existing UK subsidiary, and the Caravell product lines re-branded AHT.
Meanwhile, the former Danish parent company Caravell A/S had been acquired by Brazilian manufacturer Metalfrio in 2006. Metalfrio retains the Caravell product brand name, and continues to supply Caravell-branded products around the world.
Frost-Tech equipment
Kassem Traboulsi, the man behind the new Caravell Ltd distribution business, started work as a refrigeration engineer, and in 1998 started his own commercial refrigeration manufacturing company Frost-Tech in Oxford. The factory grew so fast, that he moved the factory to a bigger unit in Lebanon, and in 2007 added a large new factory in China. The factory is already a supplier to several large UK customers, and also exports to several countries in Europe. Up until the purchase of the former Caravell business by AHT, he supplied most of Caravell UK’s best selling models.
Now back in Top Angel, Caravell Ltd is stocking a wide range of Frost-Tech equipment, including previous best selling models and exciting new models.
“We hold £1m of stock in Buckingham so that Caravell Ltd can make sure that all the customers can get the units, which has been missing from the UK market for several years,” said Hans Jensen.
The range includes patisseries, multideck, grab & go display fridges, upright glass door display fridges and upright stainless steel gastronorm storage chillers and freezers.
“We also know finding the correct commercial refrigeration equipment like display fridges is not easy,” said Jensen. “Thats why we offer a large range of top quality commercial refrigeration display fridge and storage cabinets as well as a high standard of economical cabinets at affordable prices.”
Further information here.
