ABOUT US

Polar Ice began as a family business established in 1996, with only two employees and a vision to develop the dry ice market in Ireland. Today, Polar Ice has evolved significantly. The company remains a family business, employing more than 20 people with diverse skills and expertise. With their dedicated dry ice production plant strategically located in the Midlands on the Laois-Offaly border, along with depots in Dublin, Cork, and Armagh, Polar Ice ensures seamless distribution of its dry ice products nationwide.

MANUFACTURING EXPANSION AND DEVELOPMENT

Polar Ice has made significant investments to support growth, including expanding our manufacturing premises to optimise production flow and storage facilities. We have also implemented additional production lines, moving towards more automated production and packaging processes. This advancement not only enhances operational efficiency but also reduces physical demands on our team, fostering a safer and more ergonomic working environment. In addition, we have doubled onsite raw material storage, bolstering supply chain security and ensuring uninterrupted service for our valued customers.

FOOD GRADE MANUFACTURING

In 2013, Polar Ice invested in ‘Food Grade’ manufacturing and is certified to ISO9001:2015. We are the approved dry ice supplier to some of the country’s top food producers and meat processors.

We operate a clean-room manufacturing environment to prevent any physical, chemical, or microbial contaminants in our dry ice, and employ our own quality assurance experts to maintain our exacting standards.

A CRITICAL LINK IN THE SUPPLY CHAIN

Over the years, Polar Ice has broadened its sector and customer base. Our food-grade dry ice supports critical and time-sensitive operations across various industries, including temperature-controlled logistics, food processing, airline catering, blood banks, pharmaceutical companies, and even special effects. Alongside dry ice, we also offer gel packs and insulated storage solutions, with domestic and international customers able to order online.

MEET OUR TEAM

Meet the Polar Ice team responsible for dry ice operations, quality assurance, and deliveries.

MANAGEMENT TEAM

Alison Ritchie

ALISON RITCHIE

Managing Director
Robert Powell

ROBERT POWELL

Director

JACOPO PAVESI

Director
Henry Ritchie - Project Manager

HENRY RITCHIE

Project Manager
Paul Allen, Commercial Manager

PAUL ALLEN

Commercial Manager
Alison Ritchie

ALISON RITCHIE

Managing Director
Robert Powell

ROBERT POWELL

Director

JACOPO PAVESI

Director
Henry Ritchie - Project Manager

HENRY RITCHIE

Project Manager
Paul Allen, Commercial Manager

PAUL ALLEN

Commercial Manager

CUSTOMER FOCUS TEAM

JACKIE KINCH

Customer & Finance Executive

LUKE BREE

Customer & Logistics Executive

EMMA COMERFORD

Customer & Marketing Executive

TRACEY COOLING

Customer & Quality Executive
Gillian Powell, Brand Manager

GILLIAN POWELL

Brand Manager

KAREN POWELL

Accounts Payable

TRANSPORT TEAM

RAIVO PODNIEKS

HGV Driver

STEPHEN MARTIN

HGV Driver

OSKARS ZBANOVS

HGV Driver

STEPHEN FLANAGAN

LGV Driver

RAIVO PODNIEKS

HGV Driver

STEPHEN MARTIN

HGV Driver

OSKARS ZBANOVS

HGV Driver

STEPHEN FLANAGAN

LGV Driver

DES BYRNE

LGV Driver

PRODUCTION TEAM

Mariusz Merchel, Production Manager

MARIUSZ MERCHEL

Production Manager

DEREK CARROLL

Production Team Lead

LIAM WARD

Production Operative

VLAD ROZNOVAT

Production Operative

ANTHONY CROSBIE

Onsite Maintenance & Support
Mariusz Merchel, Production Manager

MARIUSZ MERCHEL

Production Manager

DEREK CARROLL

Production Team Lead

LIAM WARD

Production Operative

VLAD ROZNOVAT

Production Operative

ANTHONY CROSBIE

Onsite Maintenance & Support

INDUSTRY RECOGNITION

We have received recognition of our achievements in the form of several industry awards:

  • Fleet Transport Awards – Livery Award 2026
  • Laois Business of the Year 2025 Winner – Laois Business Awards 
  • Fleet Transport Awards – Own Account Transport Operator of the Year 2020
  • Irish Accountancy Awards 2016 and 2017 – Winner 2017 Practice/Industry
  • Ulster Bank Business Achievers Award 2015 – Winner of Women Led Business in Leinster
  • Offaly LEO Innovation Award 2014 – Finalist
  • SFA Awards 2013 – Finalist
  • Small Firms Association ‘Innovator of the Year’ Award 2013 – Finalist
  • Small Firms Association ‘Environmental Sustainability’ Award 2013 – Finalist
  • Midlands Ireland ‘Outstanding Business’ Award 2012 – Shortlisted
  • Midlands Ireland Awards 2012 – Finalist
  • National Enterprise Award 2010 – Finalist
  • Offaly County Enterprise Award 2010 – Winner

Articles about Polar Ice have been published in The Sunday Independent, The Irish Times, Irish Farmers Journal and Sunday Business Post, as well as management profiles in professional journals.

POLAR ICE IS A PROMPT PAYMENT SIGNATORY

Polar Ice is a signatory of the prompt payment code which is about encouraging and promoting best practice between organisations and their suppliers.

Code signatories pledge to:

Pay suppliers on time

  • Within the terms agreed at the outset of the contract, or 30 days, in accordance with legislation
  • Without attempting to change payment terms retrospectively
  • Without changing practice on length of payment for smaller companies on unreasonable grounds

Code signatories pledge to:

Give clear guidance to suppliers:

  • Providing suppliers with clear and easily accessible guidance on payment procedures
  • Ensuring there is a system for dealing with complaints and disputes which is communicated to suppliers
  • Advising them promptly if there is any reason why an invoice will not be paid to the agreed terms

Code signatories agree to:

Encourage good practice

  • By requesting that lead suppliers encourage adoption of the code throughout their own supply chains

Learn more about the code at www.promptpayment.ie

Our Locations

HQ Office
Unit 3
Portarlington Ind. Est.,

Portarlington,
Co.Laois
R32 XR7Y
T: +353 (0)57 862 3860
E: info@polarice.ie

Dublin Depot
c/o Expert Air
Unit 42 Airways Ind. Est.,

Santry,
Dublin 9
D17 V672
T: +353 (0)1 862 3730

Cork Depot
Unit 624 Harbour Point Bus. Park,
Little Island,
Co.Cork
T45 RK26
T: +353 (0)21 463 4607

Northern Ireland Depot
Unit 47 CIDO Business Complex,
Portadown,
BT63 5WH
Northern Ireland
T: +44 (0)28 4375 8045
E: info@polarice.co.uk