We are a local Poole company with nationwide reach.
CRS was formed in 2000 and by responding to our customer needs has developed over the last 20 years from a refrigeration based business , to providing a full service for food stores. Our team have many years of experience in this industry and a wide variety of backgrounds to help provide knowledge and inspiration to our customers.
Meet The Team
Andrew Drake
Managing Director
Andrew is the captain of the ship and has been working in and around the refrigeration and shopfitting industries all his working life. His father founded a manufacturing business, Drakes Refrigeration. Andrew initially worked in this business, rising to Sales Director to work with most of the UKs major supermarket chains. In 2000 he founded CRS and was soon joined by his wife, Mary. Between them, they built their new company from a spare bedroom, up to where it is today. He describes himself as a ‘bit of a dinosaur’ with traditional values, preferring to meet people face to face, sealing the deal with a handshake and a liking for tangible printed information. With 7 children and now 4 grandchildren in his brood, there is rarely any down time. Away from work, his passions include AFC Bournemouth and bread baking.
Hannah Houston
Creative Director
Hannah is our Design Director and has been with CRS for more than 5 years. She is passionate about design and having spent most of her life drawing, making clothes and furniture, a degree in Interior Architecture and Design at the Arts University Bournemouth was a natural progression. At CRS, Hannah utilises her technical skills, logical approach to design and understanding of materials to help our customers achieve the retail spaces they always wanted. Hannah is married with 3 children and lives in Christchurch. Any spare time she has is spent with her family out and about, exploring Dorset.
Ed Lamdin
Project Manager
After a childhood spent in Southern Africa, Ed studied Real Estate Management at Oxford Brookes. He then worked for 7 years travelling Europe finding, contracting and account managing boutique hotels for Mr & Mrs Smith. Three further years working for himself in construction means Ed has a keen eye for design and a perfect finish. He lives in the New Forest with his wife, 2 daughters and son.
Rebecca Arnekleiv
Retail Sales Designer
Originally from Stockholm, Rebecca grew up moving about the world. In Bath, Rebecca completed a degree in Politics and International Relations. After a stint in the corporate world she decided to turn to more creative pursuits and gained a Diploma from the Interior Design School of London, whilst working in the luxury bathroom sector and living on a houseboat. Rebecca has experience of project management, logistics, purchasing and sales. This coupled with a flair for design, good spatial awareness and a technical mind makes her a versatile addition to CRS. In her spare time, she climbs, plays hockey and whatever stringed instrument she get can her hands on.
Toby Allen
Retail Designer
Born and raised locally in Poole, Toby is the newest member of the team. Recently graduating with a degree in Architecture from Plymouth University, Toby has an understanding of space and visual design. In his spare time Toby is an avid gym goer and likes to be out in nature. Besides this, he enjoys all things DIY and the challenge of learning new skills along the way.