Iceland Foods has partnered with Icelandic investment company Skel to distribute its products across a number of countries in the Nordics.

The joint venture, known as ICE JV EHF, will see the supermarket‘s frozen products stocked in Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland following high demand in the market.

Iceland Foods group chief executive Tarsem Dhaliwal said the move was a “natural step” in the frozen food retailer’s growth.

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He explained: “It’s a region associated with knowing a thing or two about quality frozen food and through our partnership with ICE JV EHF, we’ll be able to build a strong wholesale foundation which will expand our reach to new customers and showcase the ‘Power of Frozen’ across the region.”

Skel chief executive Ásgeir Helgi Reykfjörð Gylfason added: “Skel aims to be a strategic investor through collaboration and partnership where our expertise and know-how advances our partners´ interests.

“This joint venture represents our commitment to take full advantage of opportunities by bringing high-quality and trusted products to new markets, combining Skel’s operational strength with the well-known brand of Iceland Foods.”

It follows a 20-year working relationship between the grocer’s founder Sir Malcom Walker and Skel chairman Jon Asgeir Johannesson, who led Baugur’s acquisition of Iceland’s holding company the UK Big Food Group in 2005.