Central McGowan, a St. Cloud-based gas supplier company, has acquired Jasons Beverage Carbonation Co., a St. Paul-based dry ice and bulk carbon-dioxide supplier. 

The acquisition more than doubles Central McGowan’s carbon dioxide business that it started in 2006, according to a company press release. With the acquisition, Central McGowan will have nearly 3,000 customers spread across Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Iowa.

The combined business will deliver CO2, nitrogen, beer gas, and dry ice to restaurants. Its restaurant clients range from fast food and fast casual to fine dining, breweries, and bars.

Jasons, which started business in the late 1950s, will continue to operate under the Jasons name.

“All of its current employees, building, fleet, and assets will be a part of the Central McGowan family,” the press release said. 

The acquisition expands Central McGowan’s footprint, buying power, and experience, Central McGowan president and CEO Joe Francis said in the release.

The addition of Jasons will grow distribution of ColdZEROTM, Central McGowan’s brand of dry ice. It’s manufactured daily at the company’s St. Cloud location.

Dry ice, which is the solid form of CO2, is used in more than 20 different industries, according to Central McGowan. Some applications include industrial and equipment cleaning, medical manufacturing, food processing, wood finishing, mold remediation, food and historic preservation, and emergency refrigeration.

Jasons also offers nitrogen generators for drink dispensing systems.

Bob Crew, Central McGowan’s VP of distribution operations, has been named vice president and general manager of the combined CO2 business. Crew will be tasked with leading the integration of sales and operations. Dean “JR” Kiffmeyer, currently Central McGowan’s executive VP and general manager, will take over other distribution operations to allow Crew to focus solely on the CO2 business.

Central McGowan has stores in St. Cloud, Little Falls, and Burnsville; an automation and robotics center in St. Cloud; and a distribution hub in Fargo, North Dakota.