A longtime North Battleford air conditioning and refrigeration business has been sold to a Toronto-based company.
Berg Chilling Systems Inc. has acquired J&J Air Conditioning and Refrigeration as of March 2, 2020. As part of the deal the business will now go under the name J&J Refrigeration – A Division of Berg Chilling Systems.
The deal comes three months shy of the 45-year anniversary for the local operation under proprietor John Millard. Millard had been looking to sell the business and found a willing buyer in Berg Chilling Systems, which according to their news release specializes in manufacturing, installation and servicing of custom-engineered industrial chilling solutions. Those use both ammonia and synthetic refrigerants for recreational ice, food and beverage, cold storage, manufacturing and oil and gas sectors.
Don Berggren, president of Berg Chilling Systems, said this is “part of the Berg expansion program to build our business across Canada.”
“We’re thrilled to be part of the J&J - Mercury group. They’ve had a great reputation here in North Battleford and Saskatoon. We’re glad to be continuing that operation and service here and making it bigger and better than it’s ever been.”
Under the deal, Millard will continue on in charge of operations in North Battleford and the business will continue at their current location, which will also be Berg Chilling’s head office for Saskatchewan. They are located at 792 -107th Street in North Battleford, the former SGI building.
The day-to-day business will stay the same, but there will be a larger coverage area. Berggren said they could be adding a few more staff as they start to grow, but it will be “the same good service and good company the region has grown to know.”
J&J Refrigeration has a long history in North Battleford. For 45 years they were a York air conditioning and furnace dealership and in the 80s they added Carrier.
Artificial ice plants are a major part of their business. They service 61 ice plants across Saskatchewan. They also have longstanding accounts with the Town of Battleford, who they have been with for 44 years, as well as Lloydminster, Meadow Lake and Wilkie.
“It was a good business opportunity to keep our business going and keep servicing our customers who have been with us forever,” said Millard. It gives the local operation the opportunity to have “a little better buying power” and also “cover all of Saskatchewan better.”
