A FAMILY business is moving to a new home after more than 25 years in Carlisle's urban village.

Refrigeration (Mitton) is relocating from East Norfolk Street in Denton Holme to new premises on the Kingstown Industrial Estate.

The company specialises in commercial refrigeration, air conditioning systems and renewable heat equipment and is run by director Alex Mitton, the third generation of his family to be involved in the firm.

It was set up by his grandfather, Alf, in 1950 and was based on Cecil Street, off Botchergate, until 1990.

He is pleased to be moving the business to a new home.
"It is the end of one era and going on to the next," he said.

"But I think it is going to be an interesting move, it was daunting at the start but many of us involved in the clear up (of the old site) are now ready and raring."

The search for a new home has taken about three years and has been motivated by a number of factors.

"It will be easier for us to get on and off the motorway to get to customers' sites and it will be easier for clients to get to us," Mr Mitton said.

"I think the building we have now is one which has too much room. We have reformed the business and we do not need as much space as we used to and we're heating three offices which we do not use."

He also joked: "We are getting rid of our old stock, we have thrown out things which have been maybe sitting around since the 1960s."

The business employs 13 people and has in the last year launched an online operation called CaterAppliance.co.uk and adapted to cloud-based computer systems.

"We are changing little things all of the time but it will be the same company at the new site," Mr Mitton said.

The company is very much a family affair for Mr Mitton, who began working there when he was a teenager.

His mother Wendy is a director and his late father Brian also ran the company.

He also has several staff members who are related to each other.

The company will open its doors at the new premises early next month.