Local reefer business moves to Woodstock

A local reefer repair business has a new location in the Woodstock area.

Stockford Reefer, which was originally located in Belleville, moved to Woodstock and built a bigger location just past the Murray’s Irving on the Beardsly Road.

From its new address at 7 Aubrie Court, for Stockford Reefer continues to provide repairs and service to refrigerated units in the region’s bustling transportation industry.

“We had run out of space completely said Hilary Stockford, who owns the business with her husband Matthew Stockford. “We were located in Belleville, out by Redbridge and this shop is two-and-a-half times the size of our old one. My office used to be in the basement of our house. We were at max capacity. We had two men working out of an eight by eight office, which also doubled as our driver’s lounge and break room.”

The business was up an running in its new location by December 2016, but the official grand opening was on Thursday, March 30.

“The company was established twenty years ago in 1997 by my father-in-law and mother-in-law Arnold and Susan Stockford,” said Hilary Stockford. “In 2013, myself and my husband Matthew purchased the business from Arnold. We moved in here in December. December 7 [2016] was our first day in business.”

The event featured an official ribbon cutting and congratulations from TJ Harvey and a representative from the Atlantic Provinces Trucking Association.

“Congratulations on this next new phase in your lives,” Harvey told the family. “This is a shining example of a business that’s been built on hard work and service. I think regardless of where you chose to have your location, the service has always spoke for itself and I think that work ethic and dedication to your customers will suit this business very well.”

For the Stockford family, the new building is much more than the home of their business.

It is now a memorial for Susan Stockford, Matthew Stockford’s mother and the driving force behind the family business for years.

She passed away in 2014.

On Thursday, Matthew Stockford dedicated the building to his mom.

“She let Arnold make some decisions,” he said. “She made a lot. That was a hard time for sure, but with that, and in her memory, I’d like to dedicate this building to her.”

To Hilary Stockford, it means a lot for the business to have a new place to serve their customers.

“It’s great being able to offer the convenience,” she said. “Our customers mean the world to us.”

Her husband agreed.

“Going forward, I’m excited for the future of Stockford Reefer,” Matthew said to the crowd at the grand opening. “What we can do for our customers, how it’s going to effect ourselves and I’m excited to come to work every day in this beautiful building with all of these wonderful people.”