Williams Shipping Expands in Scotland with Acquisition and New Site

Southampton-based logistics and maritime services specialist Williams Shipping has strengthened its presence in Scotland with the acquisition of GIF Transport and Logistics and the purchase of land in Dyce, Aberdeen, earmarked for further expansion. The move builds on an already strong working relationship between the two companies, with GIF set to continue trading under its existing brand and management to ensure uninterrupted service for customers.

Williams Shipping Logistics Managing Director Jonathan Williams said the partnership was founded on shared values and a mutual commitment to delivering first-class service. GIF director Brian Pirie echoed the sentiment, noting that the collaboration would allow both companies to build on their strong reputations and offer greater value to customers across the UK logistics market.

The Dyce site will become GIF’s new headquarters and will also house Williams Marine Lubricants and the company’s specialist container division, Willbox. The location is set to play a key role in the group’s operations in the north, with phased development already under way and full operations expected to commence later this year.

For the UK logistics sector, this acquisition and expansion represent a significant strengthening of Williams Shipping’s network. By integrating transport, marine lubricants and container solutions under one hub, the company is set to enhance efficiency, improve customer service, and increase its agility in serving both regional and national markets.

Seafrigo expands in Nordics

Seafrigo, the cold chain logistics expert, specialising in food logistics has officially inaugurated its fifth warehouse in Sweden, marking a significant expansion of its operations in the Nordic region. The new 10,000-square-metre facility, located in Katrineholm, southwest of Stockholm, boasts 30,000 pallet positions and will enable Seafrigo to further enhance a range of its services in the region.

The grand opening was conducted by Seafrigo President and Founder, Eric Barbé, alongside Group CEO, Bruno Plantaz, and Chief Projects Officer, Stéphane Desseigne. They were joined by Seafrigo Nordics Directors Peter Jönsson and Magnus Mohlin, along with customers and local councillors, for a tour of the state-of-the-art facility.

Seafrigo specializes in the storage and handling of foodstuffs across four temperature zones, ranging from frozen to controlled ambient conditions. The company’s Nordic operations are headquartered in Helsingborg, a facility that opened in 2018. Across the Nordics, Seafrigo handles 3,000 specialist pallets daily and conducts 600 tonnes of blast-freezing of meat per week. The new Katrineholm site alone has the capacity to handle 100 tonnes of blast-freezing every week, reinforcing Seafrigo’s commitment to providing premium, specialist logistics solutions.

Built to the highest environmental standards, the Katrineholm facility is Miljöbyggnad Silver certified, in accordance with Sweden’s stringent environmental building certification system. Additionally, Seafrigo operates fully electric trucks in the region, eliminating the use of diesel and further reducing the company’s carbon footprint.

Seafrigo Sweden is a key player in the protein logistics sector, handling beef, pork, and poultry. The company receives daily deliveries directly from slaughterhouses, blast-freezing products from +2°C to -18°C in preparation for export. The principal export markets for Seafrigo’s frozen products include Asia and Africa. The company also provides storage for meat before distribution to Swedish retailers.

With a robust infrastructure in place, Seafrigo ensures that 80% of the Nordic region receives overnight deliveries for products destined for local distribution.

“This new development enables us to further enhance Seafrigo’s extensive service offering across the Nordics and ensures we can better serve our customers’ precise, specialist needs,” said Managing Director Peter Jönsson. “Located close to major retailers’ national distribution centres, we can meet and exceed their requirements while maintaining our commitment to sustainability.”

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