RHM Group

Star completes major project for RHM Group.

Star Refrigeration has completed two major projects for businesses within the RHM group, confirming its position as a key supplier of cooling solutions for the UK food industry.

RHM is one of the largest food companies in the UK and Ireland, with over 50 European manufacturing sites. The company manufactures some of the leading brands in bread, cakes and groceries and supplies own label products for major retail customers.

Star recently completed work on flagship refrigeration engineering projects at RHM’s Charnwood Foods site in Leicester and Avana Bakeries, Newport. The two refrigeration contracts were valued at over £2.2M in total. Star is currently working alongside a number of businesses within the RHM group to develop further specifications for energy efficient and cost effective cooling solutions.

The Charnwood Foods and Avana Bakeries projects included ammonia refrigeration plants to serve Starfrost spiral freezers and chillers on both sites. As a natural refrigerant, ammonia is environmentally friendly and energy efficient. A low charge ammonia system is widely recognised as highly suited to food processing environments.

Star also designed and installed a number of air cooled chiller packages. These supply cooling to process areas at Charnwood Foods and provide comfort cooling and product conditioning at the Avana Bakeries facility. A series of direct expansion (DX) refrigeration plants for cold stores and chill rooms were also included on both contracts.

Star Refrigeration’s National Key Account Manager James Ward says: “Both projects required a range of cost effective and highly energy efficient refrigeration systems. Our engineering team worked closely with each client to develop cooling solutions that deliver best value and maximum operational efficiency.”

Charnwood Foods manufactures pizza bases for one of the UK’s leading pizza restaurant and delivery chains. Over the past year the company has extended its manufacturing site in Leicester, doubling production capacity to meet increased customer demand. A range of cost effective and energy efficient refrigeration plants were central to the new manufacturing facility.

Commenting on the completion of the refrigeration contract, Managing Director of Charnwood Foods Richard Cooper says: “Star’s expertise and the equipment installed has complemented other investment that has been made at Charnwood Foods. We have been able to make significant technical advancements in how we manufacture our product. We believe it is important to invest in new technology to make the business more competitive. It is equally important to work with business partners that deliver against their promise. Star has achieved both these key success criteria.”

Avana Bakeries produces a wide range of cakes and desserts including famous name brands and own label products for major retailers. Earlier this year, a £21million regeneration project was completed at the company’s manufacturing site near Rogerstone, South Wales. It was vital that new refrigeration systems were efficient in operation and provided the company with the flexibility to process a wide range of products.

Star Refrigeration is the UK’s largest independent industrial refrigeration engineering company. Star focuses on the design, manufacture, installation, commissioning and maintenance of industrial refrigeration systems. The company offers a turnkey package to all users of refrigeration plant.

Established in Glasgow in 1970, Star has over 250 employees nationwide and provides fast response 24-hour technical support from a network of nine branches to customers throughout the UK.

Star’s technical advisory arm, Star Technical Solutions (STS), operates as an independent consultancy providing advice on refrigeration engineering issues. Star also owns food freezing and chilling equipment specialist Starfrost, as well as mechanical and electrical contractors Penec.

RHM Group
Client: RHM Group
Location: Charnwood Foods, Leicester and Avana Bakeries, Newport
Sector: Food Manufacturing
Service: Installation
Equipment: Bespoke General
Refrigerant: Ammonia


RHM Group