Gloucester-based coldstore and composite panel specialist ISD Solutions has completed delivery of a major new distribution centre in Devon for food wholesaler R D Johns.

Since 1997, R D Johns has been based at a depot in Newton Abbot, constructed under the advice of ISD's Darren Willcox.

Originally a family butchers, the company has recently grown rapidly - particularly during the pandemic.

Andrew Johns, owner of the company, is now targeting growth to £200m turnover by 2026. In anticipation of continued growth, the brand new £10.5m coldstore and freezer facility sees the company headquarters relocate to premises covering more than 3,700sqm in Kingsteignton, five miles away on the other side of town.

ISD Solutions is part of Gloucester-based The P & M Group, which includes PLG Insulations, doors and metal fabricator QuayTherm Manufacturing, a division in Australia and Midlands-based installations specialists S Tysoe Installations. Together the companies employ more than 190 staff, with a combined turnover of around £70m.

Darren Willcox, the companies' sales manager, said: "We have had a productive and trusted relationship with R D Johns ever since Andrew Johns took over the company in 1997.

"I actually joined the company that year and the R D Johns site in Milber was the first project I did - back then it was a significant piece of work for us, although this is a much larger scheme and a very different situation.

"Of course we're delighted to support Andrew and be there as part of the journey of his company."

The bespoke building is an eco-friendly Dutch barn design, a specialist but increasingly popular type of coldstore.constructed from a single layer or composite panels at low level providing both the thermal and vapour barrier requirements with an internal ceiling and high-level apron and roof structure over. There were requirements for frozen, chilled and ambient storage on this site.

Andrew Johns paid tribute to the benefits of his company's relationship with ISD Solutions over the years. "Since I first worked with Darren we have developed several buildings and discussed many other projects along the way," he said.

"Darren has been there to support me the whole time and I trust him completely. That trust extends to the whole company, which has a great ethos, excellent products and services, alongside being very honest and straightforward. They're good people to deal with."