What McArdle Skeath does

McArdle Skeath is a third-generation, family-owned Irish temperature-controlled supply chain provider headquartered in Dundalk (Inniskeen), operating from two HPRA-licensed sites in Dundalk and Dublin (Hollystown). Founded in 1968 by Michael McArdle as a single-truck transport operator and rebranded to McArdle Skeath after the 2008 acquisition of Skeath Refrigerated Transport, the company serves enterprise customers in the pharmaceutical, medical device, nutritional (including infant formula), food and beverage, and biotechnology sectors. The integrated platform combines validated warehousing across five temperature regimes (ultra-low -35°C to -45°C, cold chain +2°C to +8°C, ambient monitored +0°C to +35°C, CRT +5°C to +25°C, and controlled ambient +15°C to +25°C), plus a -70°C SuperFreezer for biologics, totalling ~70,000 pallet positions and 250,000+ sq ft. Transport operations span ocean, inland, refrigerated, and air freight via a 70+ vehicle fleet and global carrier partnerships reaching the UK, Continental Europe, Asia, and the Americas.

The technology layer centres on a Warehouse Management System with XML and EDI integration into client systems providing full receipt-to-despatch traceability, 24/7 GPS-tracked fleet with continuous temperature monitoring, and a 21CFR Part 11-compliant MasterControl QMS governing document control, CAPA, and change control. Distinctive physical assets include a bespoke -40°C facility with four independent chambers and full back-up redundancy (the first in Ireland and only the fourth globally) and a -70°C SuperFreezer for vaccines, biologics, and R&D samples. The company holds HPRA Wholesaler Distribution Authorisation, BRC Storage and Distribution, ISO 9001:2015, AEO status, FTA Ireland Gold Standard, and has been successfully audited by the US FDA, CNCA, and PMDA (Japan).

The business model is direct B2B enterprise sales with quote-based, contractually-negotiated pricing structured around volume, temperature zone, service scope, and contract duration, typically on multi-year terms. Revenue streams include recurring pallet storage and handling fees, transactional transport and freight charges, and professional-services revenue from value-added offerings such as pick & pack (99.9% barcode-verified accuracy), labelling, sampling, biologics packout, re-palletising, double stacking and rewrap, and shrouding. The company is led by CEO Siobhán McArdle alongside family Directors Micheál, Ciarán, and Eámonn McArdle, with a senior management team including a Quality Manager, named Responsible Persons for GDP at each site, and a Senior Business Development Manager, supported by a workforce of approximately 160 employees across the two facilities.

Name

McArdle Skeath

Legal name

McArdle Skeath Limited

Website

https://mcardleskeath.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

McArdle Skeath is a third-generation Irish family-owned temperature-controlled supply chain provider serving pharmaceutical, medical device, nutritional, and food and beverage enterprises through HPRA-licensed warehousing, multi-modal refrigerated transport, and value-added logistics services from facilities in Dundalk and Dublin.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Temperature-Controlled Logistics Services

NAICS

Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage (49312), Refrigerated Warehousing and Storage (493120)

SIC

Public Warehousing & Storage (4220)

akta.pro primary industry

Pharmaceutical & Life Sciences Cold Chain Storage (2–8°C / CRT) (TLALABAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Pharmaceutical & Biologics Frozen Storage (Ultra-Low/Deep-Freeze) (TLALACAD), Pharmaceutical Cold-Chain Delivery (2–8°C / CRT) (TLAAAJAC), Biologics, Vaccines & Specialty Pharma Ultra-Cold Delivery (TLAAAJAD), Medical Devices & Diagnostics Temperature-Controlled Storage (TLALABAH)

Keywords

• Temperature-controlled logistics
• Cold chain warehousing
• Pharmaceutical distribution
• Refrigerated transport
• Supply chain management

Headquarters

HQ city

Dundalk

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Warehousing Services: Temperature-controlled warehousing including ultra-low (-70°C to -45°C), cold chain (+2°C to +8°C), ambient monitored and controlled storage. Revenue generated from pallet storage fees, handling charges, and long-term contract arrangements.
2. Transport & Distribution: Refrigerated and temperature-controlled transport services including ocean freight, inland transport, air freight, and refrigerated transport. Revenue from freight charges, delivery fees, and logistics management.
3. Value-Added Supply Chain Solutions: Pick & pack, labelling, sampling, shrouding, re-palletising, double stacking & rewrap, time-sensitive biologics packout, de-boxing, decanning, depouching, and elevated sampling services.
4. -70°C SuperFreezer Storage: Ultra-low temperature storage solution for biologics, vaccines, and R&D samples requiring deep-freeze stability. Next-generation transport storage maintaining temperatures as low as -70°C.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

McArdle Skeath provides end-to-end temperature-controlled supply chain services in Ireland, including multi-temperature warehousing (ambient, cold chain, ultra-low, and -70°C SuperFreezer storage), multi-modal transport (ocean, inland, refrigerated, air freight), and value-added solutions such as pick & pack, labelling, sampling, and biologics packout. The company primarily serves pharmaceutical, medical device, nutritional, and food & beverage enterprises requiring GDP-compliant, audit-ready logistics.

Product overview

McArdle Skeath operates as a logistics and supply chain management company offering an integrated platform of warehousing, transport, and value-added services. The core platform consists of temperature-controlled warehousing capabilities spanning from ambient (+0°C to +35°C) through to ultra-low temperature storage (-70°C SuperFreezer), complemented by multi-modal transport services (ocean, inland, refrigerated, air freight). The product portfolio is unified under the McArdle Skeath brand with supply chain solutions as add-on modules including -70°C SuperFreezer, Time-Sensitive Biologics Packout, Pick & Pack, Sampling, Double Stacking & Rewrap, Re-palletising, Labelling, and Shrouding. The offering is architecture-integrated with their WMS providing XML/EDI connectivity for client system integration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ultra Low Temperature Storage (-35°C to -45°C) Validated ultra-low temperature warehousing for time-sensitive biologics and APIs using continuously monitored freezers with strict access control and redundant power systems.
• Cold Chain Storage (+2°C to +8°C) Refrigerated warehousing with GDP-aligned controls for vaccines, medicinal products, and temperature-sensitive food, with validated sensors and excursion management.
• Ambient Monitored Storage (+0°C to +35°C) Large-scale ambient warehousing with continuous environmental monitoring, barcode inventory control, and SLA-driven pick/pack for consumer goods, industrial parts, and non-refrigerated pharma.
• Ambient Monitored Storage - Controlled Room Temperature (+5°C to +25°C CRT) Controlled room temperature storage with continuous monitoring and calibrated probes for products requiring a narrower validated ambient range.
• Ambient Controlled Storage (+15°C to +25°C) Tightly controlled ambient storage with validated HVAC control and continuous logging for sensitive dry goods and medicines requiring stable CRT conditions.
• Ocean Transport Ocean freight service offering full-container and groupage solutions with flexible scheduling, customs clearance support, and global port coverage across Europe, Asia, and the Americas.
• Inland Transport Road transportation service for moving goods within Ireland and regions, ensuring timely and efficient movement between warehouses, distribution centres, and final destinations.
• Refrigerated Transport Temperature-controlled vehicle transport maintaining product stability during transit for perishable and sensitive goods with 24/7 GPS tracking and cold-chain monitoring.
• Air Freight Rapid air transportation of goods via aircraft for time-sensitive or high-value shipments with customs handling, end-to-end visibility, and Known Consignor status with the Irish Aviation Authority.
• -70°C SuperFreezer Next-generation transport storage solution maintaining products at temperatures as low as -70°C using ultra-low freezers with continuous monitoring, alarm escalation, and IQ/OQ/PQ validation for vaccines, biologics, and R&D samples.
• Time-Sensitive Biologics Packout Specialist packout service assembling validated shipper systems with refrigerants and monitors to maintain required temperatures for biologics and clinical shipments with full traceability.
• Pick & Pack Order fulfilment service with scan accuracy and SLA-driven dispatch, integrating with WMS for live inventory and order status. Suitable for B2B replenishment and project-based distributions.
• Sampling Controlled product sampling for QC or regulatory testing performed by trained personnel under SOPs, capturing chain-of-custody and environmental controls with documented evidence.
• Double Stacking & Rewrap Service re-stacking, stabilising, and rewapping pallets to meet transport or storage constraints while maintaining product safety, ideal for load optimisation and damage reduction.
• Re-palletising Transfer of goods to compliant pallets (EU/UK formats) with secure wrap, replacing damaged bases and securing with wrap/straps. All movements scanned and logged for inventory accuracy.
• Labelling Application of compliant, client-approved labels to units, cartons or pallets with barcode verification and batch recording linked to product and lot data.
• Shrouding Protective service adding covers or shrouds to pallets or units to reduce dust, moisture, or temperature exposure during storage or transit, ideal for sensitive or long-haul shipments.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99.6% on-time delivery rate
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Malta (Football Team)OthersThis is unrelated to McArdle Skeath logistics company - it's a news article about a football coach named Michael McArdle coaching the Northern Ireland women's national football team.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/mcardleskeath
• Facebookfacebook.com/McArdleSkeath
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mc-ardle-skeath
• Instagraminstagram.com/mcardleskeath

Compliance12 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about McArdle Skeath