SWEDISH refrigeration wholesaler G & L Beijer, owners of Dean & Wood, is to buy United Refrigeration's refrigeration wholesale operations in France and the UK form a reported 23.3m pounds.

United Refrigeration, which is one of the largest distributors of refrigeration products and comfort cooling systems in the USA, has decided to concentrate its operations on the North American market.

The French company in the deal, Cofriset, reports sales of £50m and has 125 employees. United Refrigeration's UK business has sales of £8.7m and employs 44.

Announcing his delight at the move, Dean & Wood's UK md John Billson said "We look forward to working with a friendly competitor that will provide a separate and distinctive service offering. We will be in contact with both customers and suppliers in due course to provide further details."