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                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.9

                          AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

         This Agreement and Plan of Merger (the "Agreement") is entered into as
of the March 11, 1998, by and among Packaged Ice, Inc., a Texas corporation
("Parent"), Packaged Ice Southeast, Inc., a Texas corporation wholly owned by
Parent ("Surviving Corporation"), Dolphin Ice Co., Inc., a Florida corporation
(the "Company") and Arthur Biggs and First Union National Bank as Trustee of
the Denis Gagnon Revocable Trust (the "the Shareholders") who collectively own
a majority of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company.

                             PRELIMINARY STATEMENTS

         The respective Boards of Directors of Parent, Surviving Corporation
and the Company have each approved the merger of the Company with and into
Surviving Corporation (the "Merger"), upon the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth herein.

         NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants and
agreements contained herein, the parties hereto covenant and agree as follows:

                               I.     DEFINITIONS

         Unless the context otherwise requires, the terms defined in this
Article I shall have the meanings herein specified for all purposes of this
Agreement, applicable to both the singular and the plural forms of any of the
terms herein defined.

         "Acquisition Price" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.7(d)
of this Agreement.

         "Assets" shall mean all of Company's properties and assets, real,
personal, tangible and intangible which shall include, but not be limited to,
those items described more fully in Exhibit A attached hereto.

         "Business" shall mean all of the operations of Company including the
production, storage, distribution, storage and sale of packaged ice products
and other items.

         "Capital Leases" shall mean those leases covering certain capital
equipment used in the Business for the direct manufacturing, distribution and
sale of packaged ice products which shall include, but not be limited to, those
items more fully described in Exhibit B, attached hereto.  The equipment
comprising the Capital Leases shall be free and clear of the Capital Leases,
liens, claims and other Encumbrances at the Closing.  Title to the assets that
are subject to Capital Leases shall be conveyed to the Surviving Corporation as
a result of this Agreement.

         "Closing Date" shall mean the date on which this Agreement is
consummated.

         "Contracts" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.14 of this
Agreement.
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         "Damages" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.1 of this
Agreement.

         "Encumbrance" shall mean any mortgage, lien, encumbrance, security
interest, charge, pledge, conditional sale agreement, or adverse claim or
restriction on transfer of any nature whatsoever other than those held by
Parent or Surviving Corporation or granted by the Company at Parent's or
Surviving Corporation's  request.

         "Escrow Agent" shall mean First Union National Bank.

         "Escrow Agreement" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.10 of
this Agreement.

         "Financial Statements" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.3
of this Agreement.

         "Financing Statements"  shall have the meaning as set forth in Section
5.11 of this Agreement.

         "GAAP" shall mean generally accepted accounting principles
consistently applied.

         "Indemnified Party" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 9.3 of
this Agreement.

         "Intangible Assets" shall mean all patents, trademarks, trademark
licenses, trade names, brand names, slogans, copyrights, reprint rights,
franchises, licenses, authorizations, inventions, processes, know-how,
formulas, trade secrets and other intangible assets (together with all pending
applications, continuations-in-part and extensions for any of the above).

         "Investment Letter" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.9 of
this Agreement.

         "Liabilities" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.11 of this
Agreement.

         "Merger" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.1 of this
Agreement.

         "Personal Property" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.13
of this Agreement.

         "Real Property" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3.12 of
this Agreement.

         "the Shareholders' Disclosure Memorandum" shall mean that Schedule
attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference that lists and describes
all disclosures by the


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Shareholders and Company concerning the Assets and the Business which are the
subject of this Agreement.

         "Shareholder Documents" shall mean the Amended and Restated the
Shareholders Agreement (September 20, 1995); the Amendment No. 1 to Amended and
Restated the Shareholders Agreement (dated as of January 17, 1997); Amendment
No. 2 to Amended and Restated the Shareholders Agreement (dated as of March 14,
1997); Amended and Restated Voting Agreement (dated September 20, 1995);
Amendment NO. 1 to Amended and Restated Voting Agreement (dated as of January
17, 1997); Amendment No. 2 to Amended and Restated Voting Agreement (dated as
of March 14, 1997);  Amendment No. 3 to Amended and Restated Voting Agreement
(dated as of November 4, 1997); and Culligan Voting Agreement (dated December
2, 1997).

         "Shares" shall mean all of the capital stock of Company outstanding on
the Closing Date.

         "Taxes" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 11.1 hereof.

                               II.     THE MERGER

         2.1     The Merger.  Upon the terms and subject to the conditions
hereof, and in accordance with the corporation laws of Texas and Florida, the
Company shall be merged (the "Merger") with and into Surviving Corporation and
Surviving Corporation shall be the surviving corporation and as such shall
continue to be governed by the laws of the State of Texas.  For federal income
tax purposes, it is intended that the Merger shall qualify as a reorganization
pursuant to Section 368(a)(1)(A) and (a)(2)(D) of the Internal Revenue Code
(the "Code").

         2.2     Continuing Corporate Existence.  Except as may otherwise be
set forth herein, the corporate existence and identity of Surviving
Corporation, with all its purposes, powers, franchises, privileges, rights and
immunities, and shall continue unaffected and unimpaired by the Merger.  The
corporate existence and identity of the Company, with all its purposes, powers,
franchises, privileges, rights and immunities, at the Effective Date shall be
merged with and into that of Surviving Corporation, and Surviving Corporation
shall be vested fully therewith and the separate corporate existence and
identity of the Company shall cease except to the extent continued by statute.

         2.3     Effective Date.  The Merger shall become effective upon the
occurrence of the issuance of certificates of merger (the "Effective Date") by
the Secretary of State of the State of Texas and the Secretary of State of
Florida upon filing on the Closing Date of articles of merger with the
Secretary of the State of Texas pursuant to Article 5.04 of the Texas Business
Corporation Act ("TBCA") and the Secretary of State of Florida pursuant to
Section 607.1105 of the Florida Business Corporation Act.





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         2.4     Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws.  The Articles of
Incorporation and Bylaws of Surviving Corporation as in effect on the Effective
Date shall be the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of the Surviving
Corporation following the Merger.

         2.5     Directors.  The members of the Board of Directors of Surviving
Corporation at the Effective Date shall be the directors of the Surviving
Corporation immediately following the Merger.

         2.6     Officers.  The officers of Surviving Corporation at the
Effective Date shall be the officers of the Surviving Corporation immediately
following the Merger.

         2.7     Conversion of Shares.

                 (a)      Each share of the Company's $1 par value common stock
         ("Share") which is issued and outstanding immediately prior to the
         Effective Date shall, by virtue of the Merger and without any action
         on the part of the holder thereof, be converted automatically into the
         right to receive the Share Price (as hereinafter defined) which shall
         be payable, without interest thereon, upon the surrender of the
         certificates formerly representing such Share, in accordance with
         Section 2.7(g).

                 (b)      Each Share shall, by virtue of the Merger and without
         any action on the part of the holder, be canceled and retired and
         cease to exist.

                 (c)      The "Share Price" for each Share will be (x)/(y)
         where (x) is the Acquisition Price (as defined in Section 2.7(d)) and
         (y) is the total number of outstanding Shares.

                 (d)      The acquisition price ("Acquisition Price") shall be
         $2,200,000, which shall consist of $1,027,300 in cash, as adjusted as
         set forth in Section 2.11 of this Agreement, (the "Cash Amount") and
         117,270 newly issued shares of Parent's common stock, par value $0.01
         per share ("Parent's Stock") valued at $10 per share and issued
         directly to the Shareholders (the 117,270 shares of Parent Stock being
         the "Stock Amount").

                 (e)      Each share of the Company's common stock held in the
         treasury of the Company immediately prior to the Effective Date shall,
         by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of the
         holder thereof, be canceled and retired and cease to exist.

                 (f)      All of the Parent's Stock, when delivered pursuant to
         the provisions of this Agreement, shall be validly issued, fully paid
         and nonassessable.





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                 (g)      At Closing, Parent will pay to the Shareholders and
         other holders of Shares, the total sum of the Acquisition Price.
         $71,920 and 82,080 shares of Parent Stock will be placed in escrow
         with the Escrow Agent for a period of 10 months in accordance with the
         Escrow Agreement (the "Escrow Amount").  The Escrow Amount shall be
         approximately 7% of the Acquisition Price and shall consist of a
         combination of cash and Parent Stock.  The ratio of Parent Stock and
         cash constituting the Escrow Amount shall be the same as the ratio of
         the Parent Stock and cash constituting the Acquisition Price.  At
         Closing the holders of certificates representing Shares shall
         thereupon cease to have any rights with respect to such Shares and
         shall surrender certificates representing the Shares to Parent
         whereupon such holders shall receive the Share Price for each Share
         surrendered.

                 (h)      The stock transfer books of the Company shall be
         closed as of the close of business on the Effective Date, and no
         transfer of record of any of the Shares shall take place thereafter.

                 (i)      No fractional shares of Parent Stock and no
         certificates or scrip therefor shall be issued; instead, the dollar
         value of any such fractional amount shall be added to the Cash Amount.

                 (j)      All of the shares representing the Stock Amount will
         be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

                 (k)      In the event that any shareholders of the Company are
         determined in the sole discretion of Parent to not be an "Accredited
         Investor" as defined in Rule 501(a) of Regulation D of the Securities
         Act of 1933, such shareholders will be paid only from the Cash Amount.


         2.8     Filing of Articles of Merger.   Upon the terms and subject to
the conditions hereof, as soon as practicable following the satisfaction or
waiver of the conditions set forth in Article VII hereof, the Company and the
Parent and Surviving Corporation shall execute and file a certificate of merger
in the manner required by the TBCA and the parties hereto shall take all such
other and further actions as may be required by law to make the Merger
effective.  Prior to the filings referred to in this Section, the foregoing
will be confirmed at the Closing.

         2.9     Rights and Liabilities of the Surviving Corporation.  As of
the Effective Date, the Surviving Corporation shall have the following rights
and obligations, pursuant to Article 5.06 of the TBCA:

                 (a)      All rights, title and interests to all real estate
         and other property owned by the Company and Surviving Corporation
         shall be allocated to and vested in the Surviving Corporation without
         reservation or impairment, without





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         further act or deed, and without any transfer or assignment having
         occurred, but subject to any existing liens or other encumbrances
         thereon.

                 (b)      All liabilities and obligations of the Company and
         Surviving Corporation shall be allocated to the Surviving Corporation,
         and the Surviving Corporation shall be the primary obligor therefor
         and, except as otherwise provided by law or contract, no other party
         to the merger, other than the Surviving Corporation, shall be liable
         thereon.

                 (c)      A proceeding pending by or against the Company may be
         continued as if the Merger did not occur, or the Surviving Corporation
         to which the liability, obligation, asset or right associated with
         such proceeding is allocated to and vested in may be substituted in
         the proceeding.

                 (d)      The Surviving Corporation shall have all the rights,
         privileges, immunities and powers and shall be subject to all the
         duties and liabilities of a corporation organized under the laws of
         the State of Texas.

         2.10    Proration.  To the extent such items are not reflected on the
Company's balance sheet, the parties shall prorate at the Closing the current
year's ad valorem taxes and prepaid expenses, based on the latest available
statements from taxing authorities, whether for the current tax year or the
preceding tax year.  The Shareholders' pro rata share of such taxes shall be
the portion attributable to the period through the day preceding the Effective
Date, prorated by days.  The prorated amounts shall be adjustments to the
Acquisition Price and shall be payable in a combination of Parent Stock and
cash in the same ratio in which the Acquisition Price is being paid.  The
prorated amounts shall be payable in the manner set forth below:

                 (a)      If a prorated amount is payable by Parent or
         Surviving Corporation  and determinable at the Closing, it shall be
         added to the amount payable by Parent or Surviving Corporation at the
         Closing.

                 (b)      If a prorated amount is payable by Parent or
         Surviving Corporation  and not determinable at the Closing, it shall
         be billed by the Shareholders when determinable and promptly paid by
         Parent or Surviving Corporation to the Shareholders.

                 (c)      If a prorated amount is payable by the Shareholders
         and determinable at the Closing, it shall be deducted from the amount
         otherwise payable by Parent or Surviving Corporation at the Closing.

                 (d)      If a prorated amount is payable by the Shareholders
         and not determinable at the Closing, it shall be billed by Parent or
         Surviving Corporation  when determinable and promptly paid by the
         Shareholders to Parent.





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         2.11    Adjustment to Purchase Price.  The Acquisition Price shall be
adjusted by the following (the "Adjustment Amount"):

                 (a)      the Closing Date payoff amounts of all current and
         long term interest bearing debt and current and long term Capital
         Leases (including any unpaid interest and prepayment penalties).  For
         the purposes of this Section 2.11(a), all payments made by Surviving
         Corporation or Parent to discharge all current and long term debt or
         Capital Leases shall be paid from the Cash Amount;

                 (b)      if the Company's ratio of current assets to current
         liabilities is less than 1:1 at the Closing Date, the Acquisition
         Price shall be reduced by an amount equal to the difference between
         the current liabilities and the current assets.  If the Company's
         ratio of current assets to current liabilities is greater than 1:1 at
         the Closing Date, the Acquisition Price shall be increased by an
         amount equal to the difference of the current assets and the current
         liabilities.

         The Adjustment Amount will be estimated by the parties based on an
estimated Closing Date balance sheet to be prepared by the Company and
delivered to the parties at least one business day prior to the Closing Date
for purposes of determining the Cash Amount to be paid at Closing (the
"Estimated Adjustment Amount").  The Adjusted Amount will be finally determined
within 90 days after the Closing based on an audited balance sheet (the
"Closing Balance Sheet") of the Company as of the Closing Date.  If the actual
Adjustment Amount is greater than the Estimated Adjustment Amount, the
Shareholders shall promptly pay the difference to Parent.  If the actual
Adjustment Amount is less than the Estimated Adjustment Amount, Parent shall
promptly pay the difference to the Shareholders.


                   III.   REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF
                          THE COMPANY AND SHAREHOLDERS

         The Company and the Shareholders, jointly and severally, represent and
warrant to Parent and Surviving Corporation as follows:

         3.1     Organization.  The Company is a corporation duly organized,
validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of Florida
and is in good standing and is duly qualified to do business in any foreign
jurisdiction in which it is currently conducting business operations.  The
Company has full corporate power and authority to own or use the properties and
assets that it purports to own or use, and to perform all of its obligations
hereunder.  All outstanding shares of stock of the Company are validly issued,
fully paid, nonassessable and a majority are owned, both beneficially and of
record, by the Shareholders.  Other than this Agreement, there is no
subscription, option, warrant, call, right, agreement or commitment relating to
the issuance, sale, delivery, repurchase or transfer by the Shareholders or the
Company (including any right of conversion or exchange under any outstanding
security or other instrument) of any of





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its capital stock or other securities.  There are no voting trusts, proxies or
any other agreements or understandings with respect to the voting of the
Shares.

         3.2     Execution, Delivery and Performance of Agreement.  This
Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and the
Shareholders and constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the
Company and the Shareholders, enforceable against them in accordance with its
terms.  Upon the execution and delivery by the Shareholders of the Escrow
Agreement, Noncompetition Agreement and any other ancillary document required
hereunder (collectively, the "the Shareholders' Closing Documents"), the
Shareholders' Closing Documents will constitute the legal, valid, and binding
obligations of the Shareholders, enforceable against the Shareholders in
accordance with their respective terms.  The Company and the Shareholders have
the absolute and unrestricted right, power, authority, and capacity to execute
and deliver this Agreement and the Shareholders' Closing Documents and to
perform their respective obligations under this Agreement and the Shareholders'
Closing Documents.  The Shareholders and the Company have held a the
Shareholders meeting (or have executed a consent) and all resolutions required
by law to approve the Merger have been duly adopted in accordance with Florida
law.  Except as set forth on Section 3.2 of the Shareholders' Disclosure
Memorandum, the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the
Company and the Shareholders and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby will not require the consent, approval or authorization of
any person or governmental authority, and will not, with or without the giving
of notice, the passage of time, or both, violate, conflict with, result in a
default, breach or loss of rights under, or result in the creation of any lien,
claim or encumbrance pursuant to, any lien, encumbrance, instrument, agreement,
or understanding, or any law, regulation, rule, order, judgment or decree, to
which the Shareholders or the Company are a party or by which they are bound or
affected. All shareholders who are not parties to this Agreement have given all
required consents and waived all dissenters rights required by or provided by
Florida law.

         3.3     Financial Statements.  The Company has previously caused to be
furnished to Parent the Company's unaudited balance sheet as at December 31,
1996,  and the related statements of income and statements of cash flow for the
fiscal year then ended, and the Company's unaudited balance sheet as of
December 31, 1997 (the "December 31, 1997 Balance Sheet") and the related
statements of income and cash flow for the fiscal year then ending.  Such
balance sheets and related statements of income and cash flow referenced in
this Section 3.3 are unaudited and collectively referred to herein as the
"Financial Statements").

         The Financial Statements taken as a whole present fairly the financial
position, results of operations, changes in shareholders' equity, and cash flow
of the Company as the respective dates of and for the periods referred to in
such Financial Statements in a consistently applied manner.

         Except as and to the extent reflected or reserved against in the
Financial Statements or as disclosed by the Company in the Shareholders'
Disclosure





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Memorandum and except for liabilities arising in the ordinary course of
business and consistent with past practice since the date of the Company's
December 31, 1997 Balance Sheet, the Company has operated the Business in the
ordinary course and has incurred no material liabilities which would be
required to be reflected in accordance with GAAP, on a balance sheet as of the
date hereof or disclosed in the notes thereto.

         Since October 31, 1997 there has not been any material adverse change
in the business, operations, properties, prospects, assets or condition of the
Business, and no event has occurred, nor does a circumstance currently exist,
that may result in such a material adverse change.  The Shareholders further
warrant and represent that the actual sales and expenses that relate to the
Company are accurately and truly reflected on the December 31, 1997 Financial
Statements.

         3.4     Shareholders' Debt.  Section 3.4 of the Shareholders'
Disclosure Memorandum sets forth all loans to the Company from the Shareholders
("the Shareholders Debt").  The Shareholders represent and warrant that, in
connection with the Shareholders' Debt or otherwise, there are no other
Encumbrances held by the Shareholders whatsoever against the Company or the
Assets other than those amounts set forth.

         3.5     Business Operations and Condition of Assets.  All items
comprising the Assets have been used by the Company in connection with the
Business and are now in serviceable condition, subject to normal maintenance
and periodic repair, and are currently sufficient for the conduct of the
Company's business after the Closing, in substantially the same manner as
conducted prior to the Closing, unless expressly disclosed to the contrary by
the Company and the Shareholders in Section 3.5 of the Shareholders' Disclosure
Memorandum.

         3.6     Title to Personal Property.  Except as set forth in Section
3.6 of the Shareholders' Disclosure Memorandum, the Company has good, legal and
marketable title to all of the personal property comprising the Assets, free
and clear of Encumbrances.

         3.7     Litigation.  Except as set forth on Section 3.7 of the
Shareholders' Disclosure Memorandum, there is no pending claim, action, suit,
proceeding or investigation (judicial, governmental or otherwise), nor any
order, decree or judgment in effect, or, to the knowledge of the Company or the
Shareholders, threatened, against or relating to the Shareholders, the Company,
the Business, the Assets, or the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

         3.8     Compliance with Laws.  the Shareholders and the Company have
materially complied with all laws, rules, regulations, ordinances, orders,
judgments and decrees relating to the Company, the Shares, the Assets, and the
Business.





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         3.9     Taxes.

                 (a)      Except as set forth in Section 3.9 of the
         Shareholders' Disclosure Memorandum, the Company has, within the time
         and manner prescribed by law, filed all returns, declarations, reports
         and statements required to be filed by it (collectively, "Returns") in
         respect of any Taxes and each such Return has been prepared in
         compliance in all material respects with all applicable laws and
         regulations and is true and correct in all respects, and the Company
         has, within the time and in the manner prescribed by applicable law,
         paid all Taxes that are shown to be due and payable with respect to
         the periods covered thereby.

                 (b)      Section 3.9 of the Shareholders' Disclosure
         Memorandum describes the status of the Company's election as an "S
         corporation" under the Code.  The Company is not liable for any
         federal income taxes as a "C- corporation" under the Code.

                 (c)      Except as set forth in Section 3.9 of the
         Shareholders' Disclosure Memorandum (i) the Company has not requested
         or been granted an extension of the time for filing any Return which
         has not yet been filed; (ii) the Company has not consented to extend
         to a date later than the date hereof the time in which any Tax may be
         assessed or collected by any taxing authority; (iii) no deficiency or
         proposed adjustment which has not been settled or otherwise resolved
         for any amount of Tax has been proposed, asserted or assessed by any
         taxing authority against the Company; (iv) there is no action, suit,
         taxing authority proceeding, or audit now in progress, pending or, to
         the Company's or the Shareholders' knowledge, threatened against or
         with respect to the Company; (v) no claim has been made by a taxing
         authority in a jurisdiction where the Company does not file Tax
         Returns that the Company is subject to Taxes assessed by such
         jurisdiction; (vi) there are no liens for Taxes (other than for
         current Taxes not yet due and payable) upon the Assets; (vii) the
         Company will not be required to include any amount in taxable income
         or exclude any item of deduction or loss from taxable income for any
         taxable period (or a portion thereof) ending after the Closing Date as
         a result of any of the following: (A) a change in method of accounting
         for a taxable period ending on or prior to the Closing Date, (B) any
         "closing agreement," as described in Code Section 7121 (or any
         corresponding provision of state, local or foreign income Tax law)
         entered into on or prior to the Closing Date, (C) any sale reported on
         the installment method where such sale occurred on or prior to the
         Closing Date, and (D) any prepaid amount received on or prior to the
         Closing Date; and (viii) the Company does not have any obligation or
         liability for the payment of Taxes of any other person as a result
         from any expressed obligation to indemnify another person, or as a
         result of such Company assuming or succeeding to the Tax liability of
         any other person as successor, transferee or otherwise.

                 (d)      The charges, accruals, and reserves with respect to
         Taxes on the respective books of the Company are adequate and are at
         least equal to that





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         Company's liability for Taxes.  There exists no proposed tax
         assessment against the company except as disclosed in Section 3.9 of
         the Shareholders' Disclosure Memorandum.  No consent to the
         application of Section 341(f)(2) of the Code has been filed with
         respect to any property or assets held, acquired, or to be acquired by
         the Company.  All Taxes that the Company is or was required to
         withhold or collect have been duly withheld or collected and, to the
         extent required, have been paid to the proper governmental body or
         other Person.  The Shareholders are not subject to withholding under
         Section 1445 of the Code with respect to any transaction contemplated
         hereby.  The Company has not been a member of any affiliated group (as
         defined in Code Section 1504(a)) or consolidated, combined or unitary
         group for purposes of any other Taxes.  None of the material property
         used by the Company is subject to a lease, other than a "true" lease
         for federal income tax purposes.

                 (e)      Except as set forth in Section 3.9 of the
         Shareholders' Disclosure Memorandum, all Tax Returns filed by (or that
         include on a consolidated basis) the Company are true, correct, and
         complete.  There is no tax sharing agreement that will require any
         payment by the Company after the date of this Agreement.

                 (f)      Surviving Corporation will acquire at least ninety
         percent (90%) of the fair market value of the net assets and at least
         seventy percent (70%) of the fair market value of the gross assets
         held by the Company immediately prior to the Merger.  For the purposes
         of this representation, amounts paid by the Company to dissenters,
         amounts paid by the Company to the Shareholders who receive cash or
         other property, the Company's assets used to pay its reorganization
         expenses, and all redemptions and distributions (except for regular
         normal dividends) made by the Company immediately preceding the
         transfer, will be included as assets of the Company held immediately
         prior to the Merger.

                 (g)      The liabilities of the Company assumed by Surviving
         Corporation and the liabilities to which the transferred assets of the
         Company are subject were incurred by the Company in the ordinary
         course of its business.

                 (h)      the Shareholders will pay their respective expenses,
         if any, incurred in connection with the Merger.

                 (i)      There is no intercompany indebtedness existing
         between Parent and the Company or between Surviving Corporation and
         the Company that was issued, acquired, or will be settled at a
         discount.

                 (j)      The Company is not under the jurisdiction of a court
         in a Title 11 or similar case within the meaning of Section
         368(a)(3)(A) of the Code.

                 (k)      The fair market value of the assets of the Company
         transferred to Surviving Corporation will equal or exceed the sum of
         the liabilities assumed by





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         Surviving Corporation, plus the amount of liabilities, if any, to
         which the transferred assets are subject.

                 (l)      The Company is not an investment company as defined
         in Section 368(a)(2)(F)(iii) and (iv) of the Code.

         3.10    Environmental.  The Company has complied in all material
respects with all laws (including rules, regulations, codes, plans,
injunctions, judgments, orders, decrees, rulings, and charges thereunder) of
federal, state, local, and foreign governments (and all agencies thereof) which
have jurisdiction over the Company concerning pollution or protection of the
environment, public health and safety, or employee health and safety, including
laws relating to occupational health and safety, good manufacturing practices
for food products, emissions, discharges, releases, or threatened releases of
pollutants, contaminants, or chemical, industrial, hazardous, or toxic
materials or wastes into ambient air, surface water, ground water, or lands or
otherwise relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use,
treatment, storage, disposal, transport, or handling of pollutants,
contaminants, or chemical, industrial, hazardous, or toxic materials or wastes,
and no action, suit, proceeding, hearing, investigation, charge, complaint,
claim, demand, or notice has been filed or commenced against any of them
alleging any failure so to comply.  Without limiting the generality of the
preceding sentence, the Company has obtained and been in material compliance
with all of the terms and conditions of all permits, licenses, and other
authorizations which are required under, and has complied, in all material
respects, with all other limitations, restrictions, conditions, standards,
prohibitions, requirements, obligations, Schedules, and timetables which are
contained in such laws.

         3.11    Insurance.  The Company has continuously maintained insurance
covering the Assets and operations of the Company, including without limitation
fire, liability, workers' compensation, title and other forms of insurance
owned, held by or applicable to the Business.  Such insurance policies provide
types and amounts of insurance customarily obtained by businesses similar to
the Business.  The Company has not been refused any insurance with respect to
its assets or operations, and its coverage has not been limited, terminated or
canceled by any insurance carrier to which it has applied for any such
insurance or with which it has carried insurance, during the last three (3)
years. Section 3.11 of the Shareholders' Disclosure Memorandum lists all
claims, which (including related claims which in the aggregate) exceed $5,000
which have been made by the Company or against any policy of the Company in the
last three years under any workers' compensation, general liability, property
or other insurance policy applicable to Company, any Assets of the Company or
the Business.  Except as set forth on Section 3.11 of the Shareholders'
Disclosure Memorandum, there are no pending or threatened claims under any
insurance policy.  Such claim information includes the following information
with respect to each accident, loss, or other event: (a) the identity of the
claimant; (b) the nature of the claim; (c) the date of the occurrence; (d) the
status as of the report date and (e) the amounts paid or expected to be paid or
recovered.





                                       12
<PAGE>   13
         3.12    Real Property.

                 (a)      Section 3.12 of the Shareholders' Disclosure
         Memorandum contains (i) a complete and accurate legal description of
         each parcel of real property owned by, leased to or used by the
         Company (the "Real Property") and (ii) a complete and accurate list of
         all current leases, lease amendments, subleases, assignments, licenses
         and other agreements to which the Real Property is subject
         (collectively, the "Leases").  The Company has delivered to Parent and
         Surviving Corporation  true and complete copies of the Leases.

                 (b)      Except as disclosed in Section 3.12 of the
         Shareholders' Disclosure Memorandum (i) each of the Leases is in full
         force and effect and has not been amended or modified; (ii) neither
         the Company, nor any other party thereto, is in default thereunder,
         nor is there any event which with notice or lapse of time, or both,
         would constitute a default thereunder; (iii) the Company has received
         no notice that any party to any Lease intends to cancel, terminate or
         refuse to renew the same or to exercise or decline to exercise any
         option or other right thereunder; and (iv) no rental under the Leases
         has been paid more than one month in advance.

                 (c)      Except as disclosed in Section 3.12 of the
         Shareholders' Disclosure Memorandum, (i) there are no tanks on or
         below the surface of the Real Property, (ii) there is no hazardous or
         toxic waste, substance or material or other contaminant or pollutant
         (as determined under federal, state or local law) present on or below
         the surface of the Real Property including, without limitation, in the
         soil, subsoil, groundwater or surface water, which constitutes a
         violation of any law, ordinance, rule or regulation of any
         governmental entity having jurisdiction thereof or subjects or could
         subject Parent or Surviving Corporation to any liability to third
         parties, and (iii) the Real Property has never been used by the
         Company or by any previous owners or operators to generate,
         manufacture, refine, produce, store, handle, transfer, process or
         transport any hazardous or toxic waste, substance or material or other
         contaminant or pollutant.

                 (d)      The zoning of each parcel of the Real Property
         permits the improvements located thereon and the continuation of
         business presently being conducted thereon.  The Real Property is
         served by utilities and services necessary for the normal and
         continued operation of the business presently conducted thereon.





                                       13
<PAGE>   14
         3.13    Personal Property.

                 (a)      Section 3.13 of the Shareholders' Disclosure
         Memorandum is a complete and accurate Schedule as of the Closing Date
         describing, and specifying the location of, all inventory, motor
         vehicles, machinery, fixtures, equipment, furniture, supplies, tools,
         Intangible Assets, and all other tangible or intangible personal
         property owned by, in the possession of, or used by the Company as to
         which the Company has an unamortized basis exceeding $1,000 (the
         "Personal Property").

                 (b)      Each lease, license, rental agreement, contract of
         sale or other agreement applicable to any Personal Property is listed
         in Section 3.14 of the Shareholders' Disclosure Memorandum and is in
         full force and effect; neither the Company nor any other party thereto
         is in material default thereunder, nor is there any event which with
         notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute a default
         thereunder.  The Company has received no notice that any party to any
         such lease, license, rental agreement, contract of sale or other
         agreement intends to cancel, terminate or refuse to renew the same or
         to exercise or decline to exercise any option or other right
         thereunder.  Except as set forth in Section 3.13 of the Shareholders'
         Disclosure Memorandum, no Personal Property is subject to any lease,
         license, contract of sale or other agreement that is materially
         adverse to the Business, Assets or financial condition of the Company.

                 (c)      The inventory of the Company as reflected by the
         Financial Statements and as described in Section 3.13 of the
         Shareholders' Disclosure Memorandum consisted and consists of items
         substantially all of which were and will be of the usual quality and
         quantity necessary for the normal conduct of the Business and
         reasonably expected to be usable or salable within a reasonable period
         of time in the ordinary course of business of  the Company, except
         items of inventory which have been written down to realizable market
         value or written off completely, and damaged or broken items in an
         amount which does not materially affect the value of the inventory as
         reflected on the Financial Statements.  With respect to inventory in
         the hands of suppliers for which the Company is committed as of the
         date hereof, such inventory is reasonably expected to be usable in the
         ordinary course of business of the Company as presently being
         conducted.

                 (d)      All accounts receivable of the Company that are
         reflected on the December 31, 1997 Balance Sheet or on the Company's
         accounting records as of the Closing Date (collectively, the "Accounts
         Receivable") represent or will represent valid obligations arising
         from sales actually made or services actually performed in the
         ordinary course of business.  Unless paid prior to the Closing Date,
         the Accounts Receivable are or will be as of the Closing Date
         collectible net of the respective reserves shown on the December 31,
         1997 Balance Sheet or on the accounting records of the Company as of
         the Closing Date (which reserves are adequate and, in the case of the
         reserve as of the Closing Date, will not be more





                                       14
<PAGE>   15
         than the reserve reflected in the December 31, 1997 Balance Sheet and
         will not represent a material adverse change in the composition of
         such Accounts Receivable in terms of aging).  Subject to such
         reserves, each of the Accounts Receivable either has been or will be
         collected in full, without any set-off, within one hundred eighty
         (180) days after the date on which it was accrued.   There is no
         contest, claim, or right of set-off under any agreement with any
         obligor of an Account Receivable relating to the amount or validity of
         such Account Receivable.


         3.14    Contracts. Section 3.14 of the Shareholders' Disclosure
Memorandum contains a complete and accurate list of all presently effective
material contracts, leases and other agreements ("Contracts") to which the
Company is a party and which affect or are applicable to the Assets or the
Company, true and complete copies (or summaries in the case of oral contracts)
of each of which have been delivered to Parent and Surviving Corporation by the
Company, including, without limitation, any:

                 (a)      mortgage, security agreement, financing statement or
         conditional sales agreement or any similar instrument or agreement;

                 (b)      agreement, commitment, note, indenture or other
         instrument relating to the borrowing of money, or the guaranty of any
         such obligation for the borrowing of money;

                 (c)      joint venture or other agreement with any person,
         firm, corporation or unincorporated association doing business either
         within or outside the United States relating to sharing of present or
         future commissions, fees or other income or profits;

                 (d)      lease, license, rental agreement, contract of sale or
         other agreement applicable to the Personal Property;

                 (e)      franchise agreement;

                 (f)      warranty;

                 (g)      noncompetition agreement;

                 (h)      broker or distributorship contract; or

                 (i)      advertising, marketing and promotional agreement
         (including, but not limited to, any agreements providing for discounts
         and/or rebates).

         Except as disclosed in Section 3.14 of the Shareholders' Disclosure
Memorandum, each of the Contracts is in full force and effect and has not been
amended or modified and neither the Company, nor any other party thereto, is in
material default





                                       15
<PAGE>   16
thereunder, nor is there any event which with notice or lapse of time, or both,
would constitute a material  default thereunder.  The Company has received no
notice that any party intends to cancel, terminate or refuse to renew any such
Contract or to exercise or decline to exercise any option or other right
thereunder.

         3.15    Labor Matters.  There are no controversies pending or, to the
best knowledge of  the Company or the Shareholders, threatened between the
Company and any employees of the Company.  The Company has complied with all
laws relating to the employment of labor, including any provisions thereof
relating to wages, hours, collective bargaining, immigration, safety and the
payment of withholding and social security and similar taxes, and the Company
has no liability for any arrears of wages or taxes or penalties for failure to
comply with any of the foregoing.

         3.16    Absence of Sensitive Payments.  To the best knowledge of the
Company, the Company has not made or maintained (i) any contributions, payments
or gifts of its funds or property to any governmental official, employee or
agent where either the payment or the purpose of such contribution, payment or
gift was or is illegal under the laws of the United States or any state
thereof, or any other jurisdiction (foreign or domestic); or (ii) any
contribution, or reimbursement of any political gift or contribution made by
any other person, to candidates for public office, whether federal, state,
local or foreign, where such contributions by the Company or the Shareholders
were or would be a violation of applicable law.

         3.17    Employee Benefits.  All employee benefit plans (whether or not
covered by ERISA), deferred compensation or executive compensation plans for
employees, directors or independent contractors, and all other employee or
independent contractor arrangements or programs that are maintained or
contributed to by the Company (collectively, the "Company Plans") have been
administered and operated in all material respects in compliance with their
terms, ERISA, if applicable, the Code and other applicable law.  All Company
Plans that are intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code are so
qualified and a current favorable IRS determination letter exists for each such
plan and covers the amendments required by the Tax Reform Act of  1986.  All
funded Company Plans are fully funded according to their terms and applicable
law. No prohibited transaction or breach of fiduciary duty under ERISA has been
committed by any fiduciary, disqualified person or party in interest of any
Company Plan.  The Company has no liability, contingent or otherwise, under
Title IV of ERISA.

         3.18    Capital Improvements.  Section 3.18 of the Shareholders'
Disclosure Memorandum describes all of the capital improvements or purchases or
other capital expenditures which the Company has committed to or contracted for
which have not been completed prior to the date hereof and the cost and expense
reasonably estimated to complete such work and purchases.

         3.19    No Undisclosed Liabilities.  Except as set forth in Section
3.19 of the Shareholders' Disclosure Memorandum and obligations and liabilities
arising under the contracts disclosed in Section 3.14 of the Shareholders'
Disclosure Memorandum, the





                                       16
<PAGE>   17
Company has no liabilities or obligations of the type required to be reflected
as liabilities on a balance sheet prepared in accordance with Generally
Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), except for liabilities or obligations
reflected or reserved against in the Financial Statements and current
liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of business since the respective
dates thereof.

         3.20    Complete and Accurate Disclosure.  No representation or
warranty made to Parent or Surviving Corporation in this Agreement or in
connection with this transaction contains or will contain an untrue statement
of a material fact, or omits or will omit to state a material fact necessary to
make such representation or warranty not misleading or necessary to enable
Parent and Surviving Corporation to make a fully informed decision with respect
to the Merger of the Company into Surviving Corporation.  All documents and
information which have been or will be delivered to Parent and Surviving
Corporation or its representatives by or on behalf of the Company or the
Shareholders are and will be true, correct and complete copies of the documents
they purport to represent.

         3.21    Intercompany and Affiliate Debt.  As of the Closing Date all
intercompany and affiliated accounts of the Company to include, but not limited
to, all intercompany and affiliate notes payable and receivable, will be
settled and eliminated.

         3.22    No Material Adverse Change.  Since October 31, 1997, there has
not been any material adverse change in the Business or the Assets or condition
of the Company and to the Shareholders' knowledge, no event has occurred or
circumstance exists that will, or is reasonably likely to, result in such a
material adverse change.

         3.23    Accredited Investors.  All recipients of Parent's Stock are
accredited investors as defined in accordance with the Securities and Exchange
Commission Rule 501 of Regulation D as promulgated under the Securities Act of
1933.


                     IV.  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
                     OF SURVIVING CORPORATION AND PARENT

         4.1     Corporate Existence; Good Standing; Capitalization.  Parent
and Surviving Corporation are corporations duly organized, validly existing,
and in good standing under the laws of the State of Texas and have all
requisite corporate power and authority to issue the Parent's Stock and to own
its properties and assets and to carry on its business as now conducted as
proposed to be conducted.  Parent and Surviving Corporation are duly qualified
to transact business and are in good standing in the State of Florida.  The
copies of the Articles of Incorporation and bylaws of Parent and Surviving
Corporation delivered to the Company and the Shareholders prior to the
execution of this Agreement are true and complete copies of the duly and
legally adopted Articles of Incorporation and bylaws of Parent and Surviving
Corporation in effect as of the date of this Agreement.





                                       17
<PAGE>   18
         4.2     Power and Authority.  Parent and Surviving Corporation have
the requisite corporate power and authority, and have been duly authorized, to
enter into this Agreement and all ancillary agreements, as applicable, and to
perform all of its obligations hereunder.

         4.3     Court Orders, Decrees, Etc.   To the best of Parent's and
Surviving Corporation's knowledge, there is no outstanding order, writ,
injunction or decree of any court, governmental agency or arbitration tribunal
against or adversely affecting Parent or the Surviving Corporation or their
respective subsidiaries, or their respective properties or businesses or having
the effect of preventing, delaying, making illegal or otherwise interfering
with the transactions contemplated hereby.

         4.4     Franchises, Permits, and Consents.  Each of Parent, the
Surviving Corporation and their respective subsidiaries possesses all material:
governmental franchises, licenses, permits, consents, authorizations,
exemptions and orders, required by Parent, the Surviving Corporation and such
subsidiaries to carry on their businesses as now being conducted.  All
registrations, designations and filings with all governmental authorities
required in the conduct of the businesses of Parent, the Surviving Corporation
or such subsidiaries or in connection with the consummation of the transactions
by this Agreement have been made or obtained.

         4.5     Disclosure.  Parent and the Surviving Corporation have not
knowingly withheld from the Shareholders any material facts relating to the
assets, business, operations, financial condition or prospects of Parent or the
Surviving Corporation or their respective subsidiaries.  The representations
and warranties contained in this Agreement and all other agreements being
entered into in connection with this Agreement do not contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in
order to make the statements and information contained herein not misleading.

         4.6     Parent SEC Reports.  Since September 30, 1997, Parent has
filed on a timely basis all reports and statements, together with all
amendments required to be made with respect thereto that it is required to file
with the SEC.  No Parent SEC Document with respect to periods beginning on or
after September 30, 1997, and until the Closing contained or will contain any
information that was false or misleading with respect to any material fact, or
omitted or will omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make
statements therein not misleading.

         Parent's Offering Circular dated as of January 22, 1998 did not
contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading, and the Shareholders and the Company are
entitled to rely on the statements therein as though made in this Agreement.
The financial statements and notes thereto included in such Offering Circular
for Parent (a) are in accordance with the books and records of Parent, which
are complete in all material respects and have been maintained in accordance
with good business practices and (b) present fairly the consolidated





                                       18
<PAGE>   19
financial position and the consolidated results of operations, changes in
shareholders' equity and cash flows of Parent as of the dates and for the
periods indicated, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

         4.7     Taxes.

                 (a)      Prior to the proposed transaction, Parent will be in
control of Surviving Corporation within the meaning of Section 368(c) of the
Code.

                 (b)      Surviving Corporation has no plan or intention to
issue additional shares of its stock following the proposed transaction that
would result in Parent losing control of Surviving Corporation within the
meaning of Section 368(c) of the Code.

                 (c)      Parent has no plan or intention to reacquire any of
the Parent Stock interests issued to the Shareholders in the proposed
transaction.

                 (d)      Following the proposed transaction, Parent will
continue the historic business of the Company or use a significant portion of
the Company's business assets in a business, as determined under the principles
of Treasury Regulation 1.368-1(d).  Parent and Surviving Corporation have no
plan or intention to dispose of any of the assets of the Company acquired in
the proposed transaction other than transfers in the ordinary course of
business, and Parent and Surviving Corporation have no intention to transfer
any interest in any entity that would cause any of the assets of the Company
acquired in the transaction to no longer be deemed to be used by the Parent
under the principles of Treasury Regulation 1.368-1(d).

                 (e)      The Surviving Corporation will not pay or assume any
expenses of the Company that are not solely and directly related to the
proposed transaction in accordance with the guidelines established in Rev. Rul.
73- 54, 1973-1 C.B. 187.  Parent and Surviving Corporation will pay their
respective expenses incurred in connection with the Merger.

                 (f)      There is no intercorporate indebtedness existing
between Parent and the Company or between Surviving Corporation and the Company
that was issued, acquired or will be settled at a discount.

                 (g)      Neither Parent nor Surviving Corporation are
investment companies as defined in Sections 368(a)(2)(F)(iii) and (iv) of the
Code.


                 V.   COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY AND SHAREHOLDERS

         the Shareholders and the Company hereby, jointly and severally,
covenant and agree as follows:





                                       19
<PAGE>   20
         5.1     Conduct of the Business Pending the Closing Date.  The
Shareholders and the Company hereby agree that, from the date hereof to the
Closing Date, they will:

                 (a)      maintain the Assets in normal good repair, order and
         condition, and make such capital expenditures as necessary to maintain
         the Business, in accordance with past practices and sound business
         judgment;

                 (b)      maintain insurance upon all of its properties and
         with respect to the conduct of the Business in such amounts and of
         such kinds to adequately safeguard and protect the Assets and the
         Business;

                 (c)      not issue or agree to issue any additional shares of
         common stock or of any other voting security or any rights to acquire
         any such additional common stock or voting security which would cause
         a change of control of the Shareholders;

                 (d)      use its best efforts to comply with all laws and
         material contractual obligations applicable to it and to the conduct
         of the Business;

                 (e)      not (i) mortgage, pledge or, except in the ordinary
         course of business, subject to any lien, charge, security interest or
         other encumbrance any of the Assets (whether tangible or intangible),
         (ii) sell, assign, transfer, convey, lease or otherwise dispose of, or
         agree to sell, assign, transfer, convey, lease or otherwise dispose
         of, any of the Assets outside the ordinary course of business other
         than that expressly disclosed in the Shareholders' Disclosure
         Memorandum;

                 (f)      not authorize or consummate any dividends or
         distributions of assets to its stockholders, any consolidation or
         merger, purchase of all or substantially all of the assets of any
         entity, or any other extraordinary corporate transaction other than
         expressly disclosed in the Shareholders' Disclosure Memorandum;

                 (g)      conduct its business in its usual and ordinary
         manner.

         5.2     Investigation by Parent and Surviving Corporation.  Prior to
the Closing Date, the Company shall (i) give Parent and its authorized
representatives and advisors access, at reasonable times and on reasonable
notice, to all items of Real and Personal Property, books and records,
personnel, offices, and other facilities of the Company, (ii) permit Parent or
Surviving Corporation to make such inspections thereof as Parent or Surviving
Corporation may reasonably require, and (iii) cause its employees, and its
advisors to furnish to Parent and its authorized representatives and advisors
such financial and operating data and other information with respect to the
Business prepared in the ordinary course of the Business as Parent or its agent
shall from time to time reasonably request.





                                       20
<PAGE>   21
         5.3     Closing Conditions.  the Shareholders and the Company will, to
the extent within their control, use their best reasonable efforts to cause the
conditions set forth in Section 8.1 to be satisfied by the Closing Date.

         5.4     Confidentiality.  From and after the date hereof, the
Shareholders will, and will cause the Company and its officers, employees,
representatives, consultants and advisors to hold in confidence all
confidential information in the possession of the Company, its affiliates or
its advisors concerning Parent, Surviving Corporation or the Company.  the
Shareholders and the Company will not release or disclose any such information
to any person other than Parent and its authorized representatives.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the confidentiality obligations of this Section
shall not apply to information:

                 (a)      which the Shareholders or the Company are compelled
         to disclose by judicial or administrative process, or, in the
         reasonable opinion of counsel, by other mandatory requirements of law;

                 (b)      which can be shown to have been generally available
         to the public other than as a result of a breach of this Section; or

                 (c)      which can be shown to have been provided to the
         Company or the Shareholders by a third party who obtained such
         information other than as a result of a breach of a confidential
         relationship, known to the Company or the Shareholders.

         5.5     Public Announcement.  The Company, the Shareholders, Surviving
Corporation and Parent will cooperate in the public announcement of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and, other than as may be required
by applicable law, no such announcement will be made by either party without
the consent of the other party, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld.

         5.6     No Shopping.  From and after the date hereof through the
Closing or the termination of this Agreement, whichever is the first to occur,
neither the Company nor the Shareholders shall (and the Company and the
Shareholders shall cause their respective affiliates, officers, directors,
employees, representatives and agents not to) directly or indirectly, solicit,
initiate or participate in discussions or negotiations with, or provide any
information to, any corporation, partnership, person or other entity or group
(other than Parent or an affiliate or an associate of Parent) concerning, or
enter into any agreement providing for, any merger, sale of material assets,
sale of stock or similar transactions involving the Company or the Assets.

         5.7     Further Assurances.  The Shareholders and the Company will use
their best efforts to implement the provisions of this Agreement, and for such
purpose the Shareholders or the Company, at the request of Parent or Surviving
Corporation, at or after the Closing Date, will, without further consideration,
promptly execute and deliver, or cause to be executed and delivered, to Parent
and Surviving Corporation such deeds,





                                       21
<PAGE>   22
assignments, bills of sale, consents, documents evidencing title and other
instruments in addition to those required by this Agreement, in form and
substance satisfactory to Parent and Surviving Corporation, as Parent and
Surviving Corporation may reasonably deem necessary or desirable to implement
any provision of this Agreement.

         5.8     Insurance.  the Shareholders shall cause the Company to
continue to maintain insurance through the Closing Date with financially sound
and reputable insurers unaffiliated with the Company or the Shareholders in
such amounts and against such risks as are adequate in the judgment of the
Shareholders to protect the Assets and the Business.

         5.9     Investment Letter.  At the Closing, the Shareholders shall
execute and deliver to Parent the investment letter in the form attached hereto
as Exhibit 5.9 (the "Investment Letter").

         5.10    Escrow Agreement.  At the Closing, the Shareholders shall
execute and deliver to Parent and Surviving Corporation the escrow agreement in
the form attached hereto as Exhibit 5.10 (the "Escrow Agreement").

         5.11    Title Reports.  Within ten (10) days after the date hereof,
the Shareholders, at the Shareholders' sole cost and expense, shall provide a
title report(s) for all real property owned by the Company ("Owned Real
Property") and current reports of searches made of the Uniform Commercial Code
Records of the County and State where each parcel of Owned Real Property is
located (the "Financing Statements") setting forth the state of liens affecting
the title to the personal property and real property to be conveyed hereunder.
The title report shall form the basis for a title insurance policy, issued by a
nationally known title policy issuer, to be delivered to Parent and Surviving
Corporation, at the Shareholders' sole expense, at the Closing in an amount
equal to $600,000.  At the Closing, the Owned Real Property shall be subject to
no liens, charges, encumbrances, exceptions, or reservations of any kind or
character other than those specifically approved by Parent and Surviving
Corporation in writing (the "Permitted Exceptions").

         5.12    Noncompetition Agreement.  At the Closing, Arthur E. Biggs and
Denis Gagnon will enter into the Noncompetition Agreement attached hereto as
Exhibit 5.12.

         5.13    Registration Rights Agreement.  At the Closing, the
Shareholders shall enter into the Registration Rights Agreement attached hereto
as Exhibit 5.13.

         5.14    Shareholder Documents.  At the Closing, the Shareholders shall
enter into and deliver the Shareholder Documents attached hereto as Exhibit
5.14 to Parent.





                                       22
<PAGE>   23
               VI.  COVENANTS OF PARENT AND SURVIVING CORPORATION

         6.1     Closing Conditions.  Parent and Surviving Corporation will, to
the extent within their control, use their best reasonable efforts to cause the
conditions set forth in Section 8.2 to be satisfied by the Closing Date.

         6.2     Ancillary Agreements.  At the Closing, Parent and Surviving
Corporation will enter into the Noncompetition Agreement, the Escrow Agreement,
and all other ancillary documents required hereunder.

         6.3     Investigation by the Shareholders.  Prior to the Closing Date,
Parent and Surviving Corporation shall (i) give the Shareholders and their
authorized representatives and advisors access, at reasonable times and on
reasonable notice, to all items of Real and Personal Property, books and
records, personnel, offices, and other facilities of Parent and the
Shareholders,  (ii) permit the Shareholders to make such inspections thereof as
the Shareholders may reasonably require, and (iii) cause their respective
employees, and their respective advisors to furnish to the Shareholders and
their authorized representatives and advisors such financial and operating data
and other information with respect to Parent and Surviving Corporation prepared
in the ordinary course of business as the Shareholders or their agent shall
from time to time reasonably request.

         6.4     Confidentiality.  From and after the date hereof, Parent and
Surviving Corporation will, and will cause their respective officers,
employees, representatives, consultants and advisors to hold in confidence all
confidential information in the possession of either Parent or Surviving
Corporation, respectively, their affiliates or their advisors concerning the
Shareholders.  Parent and Surviving Corporation will not release or disclose
any such information to any person other than the Shareholders or their
authorized representatives. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the confidentiality
obligations of this Section shall not apply to information:

                 (a)      which the Parent or Surviving Corporation are
         compelled to disclose by judicial or administrative process, or, in
         the reasonable opinion of counsel, by other mandatory requirements of
         law;

                 (b)      which can be shown to have been generally available
         to the public other than as a result of a breach of this Section; or

                 (c)      which can be shown to have been provided to Parent or
         Surviving Corporation by a third party who obtained such information
         other than as a result of a breach of a confidential relationship,
         known to the Parent or the Surviving Corporation.

         6.5     Registration Rights Agreement.  At the Closing, Parent and
Surviving Corporation shall enter into the Registration Rights Agreement
attached hereto as Exhibit 5.13.





                                       23
<PAGE>   24
                               VII.  THE CLOSING

         7.1     The Closing.  The consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement (the "Closing") shall take place at a mutually
agreeable time and date.  The date of the closing shall herein be referred to
as the "Closing Date."  Subject to the provisions of Article X, failure to
consummate the transaction set forth in this Agreement on the date and time and
place determined by this Section 7.1 will not result in the termination of this
Agreement and will not relieve any party of any obligation under this
Agreement.

         7.2     Closing Obligations.  At the Closing, subject to the terms,
covenants and conditions contained herein:

                 (a)      the Shareholders will deliver to Parent and Surviving
         Corporation:

                          (i)     certificates representing the Shares, to be
                 surrendered to Surviving Corporation or Parent;

                          (ii)    a certificate executed by the Shareholders
                 representing and warranting to Parent and Surviving
                 Corporation that the Shareholders' and  the Company's
                 representations and warranties in this Agreement are accurate
                 as of the Closing Date as if made on the Closing Date (giving
                 full effect to any supplements to the initial disclosure of
                 the Shareholders' Disclosure Memorandum which was delivered by
                 the Shareholders to Parent and Surviving Corporation prior to
                 the Closing Date); and

                          (iii)   investment letter executed by the
                 Shareholders in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 5.9, (the
                 "Investment Letter").

                          (iv)    an escrow agreement (the "Escrow Agreement"
                 as set forth in Exhibit 5.10).

                          (v)     an opinion of counsel as referred to in
                 Section 8.1(f);





                                       24
<PAGE>   25
                          (vi)    letters of resignation of the officers and
                 directors of the Company;

                          (vii)   executed counterparts of all other documents,
                 including the Shareholder Documents, and certificates required
                 to be delivered to Parent and Surviving Corporation pursuant
                 to this Agreement including, but not limited to the
                 Undertaking Agreement, the Noncompetition Agreement,
                 satisfactory evidence that all third party creditors of the
                 Company have been satisfied and the title insurance policy as
                 set forth in Section 8.1(k) in the amount of $600,000 has been
                 delivered to Surviving Corporation.

                 (b)      Parent and Surviving Corporation will deliver to the
         Shareholders:

                          (i)     the Stock Amount, issued to the Shareholders;

                          (ii)    the Cash Amount (less the amounts due to
                 third party creditors and less the estimated adjustment
                 amount, and less the amount to be placed in escrow) by bank,
                 cashier's or certified check payable to the order of the
                 Shareholders or other holders of the Shares or wire transfer
                 in immediately available funds to an account designated by the
                 Shareholders or other holders of Shares, as may be selected by
                 them;

                          (iii)   a certificate executed by Parent and
                 Surviving Corporation to the effect that, except as otherwise
                 stated in such certificate, each of Parent and Surviving
                 Corporation's representations and warranties in this Agreement
                 is accurate in all respect as of the Closing Date as if made
                 on the Closing Date ("Parent and Surviving Corporation's
                 Certificate"); and

                 (c)      Surviving Corporation and the Company will execute
         articles of merger and file the same with the Secretaries of State of
         the State of Texas and the State of Florida.

                 (d)      Parent will place 82,080 shares of Parent Stock and
         $71,920 in cash of the Acquisition Price into escrow.


                          VIII.  CONDITIONS TO CLOSING

         8.1     Conditions to Obligations of Parent and Surviving Corporation.
The obligations of Parent and Surviving Corporation to complete the
transactions contemplated at the Closing shall be subject to the satisfaction
on or prior to the Closing Date of the following conditions:

                 (a)      Performance.  Each agreement and obligation of the
         Shareholders or the Company to be performed or complied with on or
         before the Closing Date





                                       25
<PAGE>   26
                 shall have been duly performed or complied with in all
         material respects and the Shareholders shall deliver to Parent and
         Surviving Corporation a certificate signed by the Shareholders and an
         officer of the Company to such effect.

                 (b)      Representations and Warranties True; No Material
         Adverse Change.  The representations and warranties of the
         Shareholders and the Company contained herein shall be true and
         correct, in all material respects, on the Closing Date with the same
         force and effect as though such representations  and warranties had
         been made on the Closing Date, and since the date hereof there shall
         have occurred no material adverse change in the Business, and the
         Shareholders shall deliver to Parent and Surviving Corporation a
         certificate signed by the Shareholders and an officer of  the Company
         to such effect.

                 (c)      No Violation of Statutes, Orders, etc.  There shall
         not be in effect any decree or judgment enjoining Parent and Surviving
         Corporation from consummating the transactions contemplated hereby.

                 (d)      Third Party Creditors.  All third party creditors of
         the Business will be paid in full, and all Encumbrances against the
         Shares, Assets and the Business will be paid or discharged.

                 (e)      Capital Leases.  All Capital Leases shall be paid in
         full and  the personal property subject thereto shall be conveyed to
         the Company free and clear of Encumbrances.

                 (f)      Opinion of Counsel for the Shareholders and the
         Company. Parent and Surviving Corporation shall have received the
         opinion of Broad and Cassel dated as of the Closing Date, in form and
         substance satisfactory to Surviving Corporation's and Parent's
         counsel, subject to reasonable qualifications and exceptions, as set
         forth on Exhibit 8.1(f). This Opinion of Counsel shall also set forth
         that any shareholders who are not parties to this Agreement have given
         all required consents and waived all dissenters rights required by or
         provided by Florida law.

                 (g)      Due Diligence Inspection Complete.  Parent and
         Surviving Corporation shall have completed and are satisfied with
         their due diligence inspection of the Company.

                 (i)      Ancillary Agreements.  Arthur E. Biggs and Denis
         Gagnon have executed the Noncompetition Agreement, the Escrow
         Agreement and all other ancillary documents required hereunder.

                 (j)      Mergers.  The contemplated mergers agreements whereby
         Artic Ice  Corporation and Artic Crystal Corporation will merge into
         Surviving Corporation





                                       26
<PAGE>   27
         and Surviving Corporation will remain as the surviving entity have
         occurred contemporaneously with the execution of this Agreement.

                 (k)      Conveyance of Real Property.  At or prior to this
         Closing, Arthur E. Biggs shall have conveyed by general warranty deed
         the real property and improvements comprising the Artic Ice
         Corporation ice manufacturing facilities located at 335 N. Congress,
         Del Ray Beach, Florida to Surviving Corporation with a title insurance
         policy issued by a nationally known title insurance issuer insuring
         title to the real property in the amount of $600,000. The effect of
         the conveyance of this real property by Arthur E. Biggs will be to
         convey a fee simple interest in the aforementioned real property
         comprising the Artic Ice Corporation ice manufacturing facility to
         Surviving Corporation free and clear of any and all Encumbrances
         unless excepted to in writing by Surviving Corporation.

                 (l)      Registration Rights Agreement.  the Shareholders
         shall have entered into the Registration Rights Agreement attached
         hereto as Exhibit 5.13.

                 (m)      Shareholder Documents.  the Shareholders shall have
         entered into and delivered the Shareholder Documents to Parent.

                 (n)      All shareholders who are not parties to this
         Agreement have given all required consents and waived all dissenters
         rights required by or provided by Florida law.

         8.2     Conditions to Obligations of the Company and the Shareholders.
The obligation of the Company and the Shareholders to complete the transactions
contemplated at the Closing shall be subject to the satisfaction on or prior to
the Closing Date of the following conditions:

                 (a)      Performance.  Each agreement and obligation of Parent
         and Surviving Corporation to be performed or complied with on or
         before the Closing Date shall have been duly performed or complied
         with in all material respects and Parent and Surviving Corporation
         shall deliver to the Shareholders a certificate signed by an officer
         of Parent and Surviving Corporation to such effect.

                 (b)      Representations and Warranties True; No Material
         Adverse Change.  The representations and warranties of Parent and
         Surviving Corporation contained herein shall be true and correct on
         the Closing Date with the same force and effect as though such
         representations and covenants had been made on the Closing Date, since
         the date hereof there shall have occurred no material adverse change
         in Parent's or Surviving Corporation's business operations and Parent
         and Surviving Corporation shall deliver to the Shareholders a
         certificate signed by an officer of Parent and Surviving Corporation
         to such effect.





                                       27
<PAGE>   28
                 (c)      No Violation of Statutes, Orders, etc.  There shall
         not be in effect any decree or judgment enjoining the Company from
         consummating the transactions contemplated hereby.

                 (d)      Due Diligence Inspection Complete.  the Shareholders
         have completed and are satisfied with their due diligence inspection
         of Parent and Surviving Corporation.

                 (e)      Registration Rights Agreement.  Parent shall have
         entered into the Registration Rights Agreement attached hereto as
         Exhibit 5.13.


                            IX.     INDEMNIFICATION

         9.1     Indemnification of Parent and Surviving Corporation by the
Shareholders.  the Shareholders agree to indemnify, defend and hold harmless
Parent and Surviving Corporation and Parent's and Surviving Corporation's
employees, agents, heirs, legal representatives, and assigns from and against
any and all claims, suits, losses, expenses (legal, accounting, investigation
and otherwise), damages and liabilities, including, without limitation, tax
liabilities (hereinafter, collectively "Damages"), arising out of or relating
to (i) any inaccuracy of any representation or warranty of the Company or the
Shareholders set forth in this Agreement or in any document or certificate
furnished or required to be furnished to Parent or the Surviving Corporation or
the breach of any covenant made by the Company in or pursuant to this
Agreement; or (ii) any claim or cause of action arising with respect to the
conduct or condition of the Business or Assets prior to the Closing, whether or
not disclosed to Parent or the Surviving Corporation on or before the Closing
Date.

         Except for events requiring indemnification under Sections 3.3, 3.4,
3.6, 3.9, and Article XI of this Agreement and Sections 3.3, 3.4, 3.6, 3.9, and
any disclosures relating to Article XI in the Shareholders' Disclosure
Memorandum, if an event occurs that otherwise requires indemnification
hereunder and said event is disclosed in the Shareholders' Disclosure
Memorandum, the Shareholders shall not be required to indemnify Surviving
Corporation or Parent for any such event.  In the event that the Shareholders
fail or neglect to disclose any such items requiring indemnification in the
Shareholders' Disclosure Memorandum, the Shareholders shall be required to
fully indemnify Surviving Corporation and Parent as required herein whether
Surviving Corporation or Parent had knowledge of such event or not.

         9.2     Indemnification of the Company and the Shareholders by Parent
and Surviving Corporation.  Parent and Surviving Corporation agree to
indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Company and the Shareholders from and
against any and all Damages arising out of or relating to any inaccuracy or any
representation or warranty set forth in this Agreement or the breach of any
covenant made by Parent or Surviving Corporation in or pursuant to this
Agreement.





                                       28
<PAGE>   29
         9.3     Claims for Indemnification.  Whenever any claim arises for
indemnification hereunder, the indemnified party (hereafter the "Indemnified
Party") shall notify the indemnifying party (hereafter the "Indemnifying
Party") in writing by registered or certified mail promptly after the
Indemnified Party has actual knowledge of the facts constituting the basis for
such claim (the "Notice of Claim").  Such notice shall specify all material
facts known to the Indemnified Party giving rise to such indemnification right,
and to the extent practicable, the amount or an estimate of the amount of the
liability arising therefrom. The failure of any Indemnified Party to promptly
notify the Indemnifying Party shall not relieve the Indemnifying Party of its
obligation to indemnify in respect to such action and shall not relieve the
Indemnifying Party of any other liability which they may have to any
Indemnified Party unless such failure to notify the Indemnifying Party
prejudices the rights of the Indemnifying Party.  In addition to all other
remedies provided hereunder or by law, Parent and Surviving Corporation shall
have the right to make a claim against the Escrow Amount for any of Parent's or
Surviving Corporation's Damages. Parent and Surviving Corporation agree that
any claims for indemnification by Parent and/or Surviving Corporation made
against the Shareholders shall first be satisfied with any amounts that have
been paid into escrow in accordance with the terms set forth in this Agreement.

         9.4     Right to Defend.  If the facts giving rise to any such claim
for indemnification involve any actual or threatened claim or demand by any
third party against the Indemnified Party, the Indemnifying Party shall be
entitled (without prejudice to the right of the Indemnified Party to
participate in the defense of such claim or demand at its expense through
counsel of its own choosing) to assume the defense of such claim or demand in
the name of the Indemnified Party at the Indemnifying Party's expense and
through counsel of its own choosing, which counsel shall be reasonably
satisfactory to the Indemnified Party, if it gives written notice to the
Indemnified Party within sixty (60) days after receipt of the Notice of Claim
that the Indemnifying Party intends to assume the defense of such claim and
acknowledges its liability to indemnify the Indemnified Party for any losses
resulting from such claim; provided, however, that if the Indemnifying Party
does not elect to assume the defense of any claim, then (a) the Indemnifying
Party shall have the right to participate in the defense of such claim or
demand at its expense through counsel of its own choosing, provided the
Indemnified Party shall control the defense of such claim, (b) the Indemnified
Party may settle any such claim without the consent of the Indemnifying Party,
however, the Indemnifying Party may not settle any such claim without the prior
written consent of the Indemnified Party; and (c) Section 9.5 hereof shall be
inapplicable.  Whether or not the Indemnifying Party does choose to so defend
such claim, the parties hereto shall cooperate in the defense thereof and shall
furnish such records, information and testimony and attend such conferences,
discovery proceedings, hearings, trials and appeals as may be requested in
connection therewith.  To the extent Parent or Surviving Corporation is the
Indemnified Party for any actual or threatened claim or demand by any third
party, Parent and Surviving Corporation shall have the right to control the
prosecution of any counterclaim or right related to such a claim or demand,
provided that Parent and Surviving Corporation agree to reasonably cooperate
with the Company or the Shareholders with respect to the prosecution of such
counterclaim or right.





                                       29
<PAGE>   30
         9.5     Settlement.  Except as provided in Section 9.4, (i) the
Indemnified Party shall make no settlement of any claim that would give rise to
liability on the part of the Indemnifying Party under an indemnity contained in
this Article IX without the prior written consent of the Indemnifying Party,
which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld and (ii) the Indemnifying
Party can settle without the consent of the Indemnified Party only if the
settlement involves only the payment of money for which the Indemnifying Party
will be fully liable.  No other settlement of any claim may be made without the
prior written consent of both the Indemnified Party and the Indemnifying Party,
which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.

         9.6     Effect of Termination.  Without limiting any other rights the
parties may have, the parties specifically agree that the covenants contained
in this Article will continue to be enforceable following termination of this
Agreement.

         9.7     Limitations on Amount.  Neither party hereto will have any
liability (for indemnification or otherwise) with respect to the matters
described in Section 9.1 (as to the Shareholders) or 9.2 (as to Parent and
Surviving Corporation) until the total of all Damages of the Indemnified Party
with respect to such matters exceeds $75,000 in the aggregate (the "Basket"),
and then the Indemnifying Party shall be responsible to the Indemnified Party
for all Damages based thereon from the first dollar of Damages without regard
to the Basket; provided, however, the Basket (as it applies to the Shareholders
as the Indemnifying Party) shall not apply to any claim for indemnification
arising out of a breach of any representations, warranties or covenants
contained in Sections 3.3, 3.4, 3.6, 3.9, 3.12(b-d) or 3.19, and the
Shareholders' obligation to discharge all liabilities not assumed by Parent or
Surviving Corporation.  The maximum liability, that will payable by either
party hereto to the other party, respectively, with respect to the matters
described in Section 9.1 or 9.2, respectively, will be limited to Two Million
Dollars ($2,000,000) in the aggregate (the "Cap"); provided, however, this Cap
will not apply to a claim for indemnification arising out of a breach of any of
the Company's or the Shareholders representations, warranties or covenants
contained in Sections 3.4, 3.6, 3.7, 3.9, 3.10, 3.11, 3.12(b-d) or 3.19,
Damages resulting from willful or intentional misrepresentations and the
Shareholders' obligation to discharge all liabilities not assumed by Parent or
Surviving Corporation.

         9.8     Applicability of Insurance.  In case any event shall occur
which would otherwise entitle any party to assert a claim for indemnification
hereunder, no claim, loss, liability, cost or expense shall be deemed to have
been sustained by such party to the extent of any proceeds received by such
party from any insurance policies with respect thereto.

         9.9     Payment of Indemnification.  Any payment made by the
Indemnifying Party to the Indemnified Party as set forth in this Article IX may
be paid, in the sole discretion of the Indemnifying Party, in either cash or
common stock of Parent so long as any such payments do not threaten to defeat
the tax-free treatment of this transaction. If such a case arises whereby the
payment of any amounts to an Indemnified Party threatens





                                       30
<PAGE>   31
to defeat the tax-free treatment of this Agreement, then said amounts shall be
made in such a ratio Parent common stock to cash as the payment of the Purchase
Price hereunder.   The shares of the common stock of Parent used for the
payment of any amounts under this Article IX shall be valued at $10.00 per
share.  In the event that the Parent and Surviving Corporation are the
Indemnifying Party, any payments made pursuant to this Article IX shall be made
in cash.  In the event that the Shareholders are the Indemnifying Party, the
Shareholders shall have the right to pay all claims in cash.  In the event that
there is an insufficient amount of cash in the Escrow Amount, the Shareholders
shall have the right to pay any such claims for indemnification to Parent and
Surviving Corporation and preserve the Shareholders ownership of the Parent
Stock comprising the Escrow Amount.  The shares of Parent Stock shall be valued
at $10 per share for purposes of the payment of any claims pursuant to this
Article IX.


                               X.     TERMINATION

         10.1    Termination.  This Agreement and the transactions contemplated
hereby may be terminated at any time prior to the Closing Date by any of the
following:

                 (a)      Mutual Consent.  By mutual written consent of the
         Shareholders, Company, Parent and Surviving Corporation;

                 (b)      Misrepresentation or Breach.  By the Company, the
         Shareholders, or Parent and Surviving Corporation, if there has been a
         material misrepresentation or a material breach of a warranty or
         covenant herein or in any agreement required to be delivered pursuant
         hereto on the part of the other party hereto;

                 (c)      Failure of Condition to Parent's and Surviving
         Corporation's Obligations.  By Parent and Surviving Corporation, if
         all of the conditions set forth in Section 8.1 have not been
         satisfied;

                 (d)      Failure of Condition to the Company's and the
         Shareholders' Obligations.  By the Company or the Shareholders, if all
         of the conditions set forth in Section 8.2 have not been satisfied;

                 (e)      Court Order.  By the Company and  the Shareholders or
         Parent and Surviving Corporation, if consummation of the transactions
         contemplated hereby shall violate any non-appealable final order,
         decree or judgment of any court or governmental body having competent
         jurisdiction;

                 (f)      Material Adverse Change.  By Parent and Surviving
         Corporation, in the reasonable judgment of their respective board of
         directors, or by the Shareholders if any event has occurred after the
         date hereof which is, or will result in a material adverse change in
         the Business or condition of the Assets of the Company or Parent
         and/or Surviving Corporation, respectively;





                                       31
<PAGE>   32
                 (g)      Drop Dead Date.  This Agreement shall terminate if it
         has not been consummated by March 12, 1998.

         10.2    Effect of Termination.  If this Agreement is terminated
pursuant to Section 10.1(a), all further obligations of the Company, the
Shareholders and Parent and Surviving Corporation under this Agreement shall
terminate without further liability of the Company, the Shareholders, Parent or
Surviving Corporation, except that the mutual provisions contained herein
relating to confidentiality shall survive any such termination.

         10.3    Right to Proceed.  Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement
to the contrary, if any condition specified in Section 8.1  or Section 8.2 has
not been satisfied, the Company, the Shareholders or Parent and Surviving
Corporation, in addition to any other rights which may be available to it,
shall have the right to waive any such condition that is for its benefit and to
require the other party hereto to proceed with the Closing.

                              XI.     TAX MATTERS.

         11.1    Tax Definitions.  The following terms, as used herein, have
the following meanings:

                 "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

                 "Federal Tax" means any Tax imposed under Subtitle A of the
Code.

                 "Final Determination" shall mean (i) with respect to Federal
Taxes, a "determination" as defined in Section 1313(a) of the Code or execution
of an Internal Revenue Service Form 870AD and, with respect to Taxes other than
Federal Taxes, any final determination of liability in respect of a Tax that,
under applicable law, is not subject to further appeal, review or modification
through proceedings or otherwise (including the expiration of a statute of
limitations or a period for the filing of claims for refunds, amended returns
or appeals from adverse determinations) or (ii) the payment of Tax by the
Company or the Shareholders, whichever are responsible for payment of such Tax
under applicable law, with respect to any item disallowed or adjusted by a
Taxing Authority, provided that such responsible party determines that no
action should be taken to recoup such payment and the other party agrees.

                 "Post-Closing Tax Period" means any Tax period (or portion
thereof) beginning after the close of business on the Closing Date.

                 "Pre-Closing Tax Period" means any Tax period (or portion
thereof) ending on or before the close of business on the Closing Date.

                 "Tax" means any net income, alternative or add-on minimum tax,
gross income, gross receipts (including gross receipts tax in respect of any
franchise operation), royalty, sales, use, ad valorem, value added, transfer,
franchise, profits, license,





                                       32
<PAGE>   33
withholding on amounts paid to or by the Company, payroll, employment, excise,
severance, stamp, occupation, premium, property, environmental or windfall
profit tax, custom duty or other governmental fee, assessment or charge of any
kind whatsoever, together with any interest, penalty, addition to tax or
additional amount imposed by any governmental authority (a "Taxing Authority")
responsible for the imposition of any such tax (domestic or foreign).

                 "Tax Indemnification Period", means with respect to any Tax,
any Pre-Closing Tax Period of the Company.

         11.2    Filing of Short Period Returns.  Parent and Surviving
Corporation and the Shareholders shall treat and cause the Company to treat the
day of the Closing as the last day of the taxable period in which the Company
is an S corporation, as defined under the Code.  All Tax returns of the
Company, which are required and/or permitted by the authorized taxing
authorities (herein collectively referred to as the "S Short Year Returns"),
shall be filed accordingly.  In accordance with Section 1362(e)(6)(D) and
related regulations of the Code, the books of the Company shall be closed
effective the day of the Closing.  The Shareholders will cause its accounting
firm to prepare, at the Shareholders' sole expense, the S Short Year Returns.

         11.3    Covenants.

                 (a)      Without the prior written consent of Parent and
         Surviving Corporation, and as it relates to the Pre-Closing Tax
         Period, the Shareholders shall not cause the Company to make or change
         any tax election, change any annual tax accounting period, adopt or
         change any method of tax accounting, file any amended Return, enter
         into any closing agreement, settle any Tax claim or assessment,
         surrender any right to claim a Tax refund, consent to any extension or
         waiver of the limitations period applicable to any Tax claim or
         assessment or take or omit to take any other action, if any such
         action or omission would have the effect of increasing the Tax
         liability of the Company or Parent or Surviving Corporation.

                          Without the prior written consent of the
         Shareholders, and as it relates to the Pre-Closing Tax Period, Parent
         and Surviving Corporation shall not cause the Company to make or
         change any tax election, change any annual tax accounting period,
         adopt or change any method of tax accounting, file any amended Return,
         enter into any closing agreement, settle any Tax claim or assessment,
         surrender any right to claim a Tax refund, consent to any extension or
         waiver of the limitations period applicable to any Tax claim or
         assessment or take or omit to take any other action, if any such
         action or omission would have the effect of increasing the Tax
         liability of the Shareholders.

                 (b)      All Returns not required to be filed on or before the
         date hereof (including any applicable extensions) will be filed when
         due in accordance with all applicable laws.  The parties agree that
         any final Return relating to the Pre-Closing





                                       33
<PAGE>   34
         Tax Period shall be timely filed by the Shareholders on behalf of the
         Company and with Parent's and Surviving Corporation's prior written
         consent, not to be unreasonably withheld or delayed.

                 (c)      All transfer, documentary, sales, use, stamp,
         registration, value added and other such Taxes and fees incurred in
         connection with this Agreement (including any real property transfer
         Tax and any similar Tax) shall be accrued by the Shareholders and be
         paid by the Shareholders when due (including any applicable
         extensions), and the Shareholders will, at the Shareholders' sole
         expense, file all necessary Tax returns and other documentation with
         respect to all such Taxes and fees.

         11.4    Cooperation on Tax Matters.

                 (a)      Parent, Surviving Corporation and the Shareholders
         shall cooperate fully, as and to the extent reasonably requested by
         the other party, in connection with the preparation and filing of any
         Tax return, statement, report or form (including any report required
         pursuant to Section 6043 of the Code and all Treasury Regulations
         promulgated thereunder), any audit, litigation or other proceeding
         with respect to Taxes.  Such cooperation shall include the retention
         and (upon the other party's request) the provision of records and
         information which are reasonably relevant to any such audit,
         litigation or other proceeding. Parent and Surviving Corporation and
         the Shareholders shall cause the Company to:  (i) to retain all books
         and records with respect to Tax matters pertinent to the Company
         relating to any Pre-Closing Tax Period, and to abide by all record
         retention requirements of any Taxing Authority or any record retention
         agreements entered into with any Taxing Authority, and (ii) to give
         the Shareholders reasonable written notice prior to destroying or
         discarding any such books and records and, if the Shareholders so
         requests, Parent and Surviving Corporation shall allow the
         Shareholders to take possession of such books and records.

                 (b)      Parent and Surviving Corporation and the Shareholders
         further agree, upon request, to use all reasonable efforts to obtain
         any certificate or other document from any governmental authority or
         any other person as may be necessary to mitigate, reduce or eliminate
         any Tax that could be imposed (including, but not limited to, with
         respect to the transactions contemplated hereby).

         11.5    Tax Indemnification.

                 (a)      The Company and the Shareholders hereby jointly and
         severally indemnify Parent and Surviving Corporation against, and
         agree to hold Parent and Surviving Corporation harmless from, any
         loss, liability or expense attributable to (i) any Tax with respect to
         income (including, to the extent based on income, state franchise
         Taxes), transfer Tax, employment or withholding Tax related to





                                       34
<PAGE>   35
         employee tips income (actual and allocated) and related reporting
         requirements, and gross receipts or royalty Tax in respect of any
         franchise operation and any other Tax of the Company related to the
         Tax Indemnification Period, (ii) any Tax resulting from a breach of
         the provisions of Sections 3.9, 11.2, 11.3, and 11.4, and (iii) any
         liabilities, costs, expenses (including, without limitation,
         reasonable expenses of investigation and reasonable attorneys' fees
         and expenses), losses, damages, assessments, settlements or judgments
         arising out of or incident to the imposition, assessment or assertion
         of any Tax described in (i) or (ii), including those incurred in the
         contest in good faith in appropriate proceedings relating to the
         imposition, assessment or assertion of any such Tax, and any liability
         as transferee or successor (the sum of (i), (ii), and (iii) being
         referred to herein as a "Loss").  Parent and Surviving Corporation
         shall give the Shareholders ten days notice of any claim of Loss, and
         the Shareholders shall have the opportunity to defend Parent and
         Surviving Corporation in accordance with Section 9.4 hereof.

                 (b)      If a claim is made against Parent and/or Surviving
         Corporation for any Loss as defined in Section 11.5(a) hereof, Parent
         or the Surviving Corporation shall notify the Shareholders as provided
         in Section 11.4(a).  Parent and/or Surviving Corporation shall, at the
         Shareholders' expense, take such action as the Shareholders may
         reasonably request in writing with respect to such Loss, and if
         reasonably requested by the Shareholders and upon the prior payment to
         the Parent or Surviving Corporation of an amount equal to such Loss,
         any payment by Parent or Surviving Corporation shall be made under
         protest.  If protest is made, Parent and/or Surviving Corporation
         shall, the Shareholders' expense, take such action as the Shareholders
         may reasonably request to recover such payment and shall, if
         requested, permit the Shareholders in Parent's and/or Surviving
         Corporation's name to file a claim or prosecute an action to recover
         such payment.

                 (c)      For the purposes of this Section 11.4, the parties
         hereby agree that all notices to the Shareholders shall be delivered
         to Arthur E. Biggs.

                 (d)      The indemnity set forth in this Section 11.4 shall
         terminate upon the expiration of the applicable statutory period of
         limitations.

         11.6    Acquisition Price Adjustment.  Any amount paid by the Company,
Parent, Surviving Corporation or the Shareholders under Section 11.5 will be
treated as an adjustment to the relevant purchase price for all Tax purposes
unless a Final Determination causes any such amount not to constitute an
adjustment to the relevant purchase price.  In the event of such a Final
Determination, Parent and Surviving Corporation or the Shareholders, as the
case may be, shall pay an amount that reflects the hypothetical Tax
consequences of the receipt or accrual of such payment, using the maximum
statutory rate (or rates, in the case of an item that affects more than one
Tax) applicable to the recipient of such payment for the relevant year,
reflecting for example, the effect of deductions available for interest paid or
accrued and for Taxes such as state and local income Taxes.  Any payment
required to be made by Parent and Surviving





                                       35
<PAGE>   36
Corporation or the Shareholders under Section 11.5 that is not made when due
shall bear interest at the rate per annum determined, from time to time, under
the provision of Section 6621(a)(2) of the Code for each day until paid.

         11.7    Survival.  The provisions of this Article XI with respect to
income (including to the extent based on income, state franchise Taxes),
transfer Taxes, employment or withholding Taxes and related reporting
requirements, shall survive for the full period of all applicable statutes of
limitations (giving effect to any waiver, mitigation or extension thereof).


                             XII.     MISCELLANEOUS

         12.1    Expenses.  Legal, accounting and other costs and expenses
incurred in connection with this transaction shall be paid by the party
incurring such expenses.

         12.2    Survival of Representations and Warranties.  All
representations and warranties contained in or made in connection with this
Agreement shall survive the Closing for the applicable statute of limitations
period.

         12.3    Inurement; Assignment.  This Agreement shall be binding upon
and shall inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective
successors, legal representatives and, if properly assigned, assigns.  This
Agreement may not be assigned by any party without the prior written consent of
the other parties hereto.

         12.4    Entire Agreement; Amendment.  This Agreement, the Schedules
and Exhibits hereto, and the related agreements referred to herein embody the
entire agreement of the parties hereto, and supersede all prior agreements and
understandings, with respect to the subject matter hereof.  This Agreement may
not be amended except by a written agreement executed by all of the parties
hereto.

         12.5    Severability.  Any provision of this Agreement which is
invalid, unenforceable or illegal in any jurisdiction shall, as to such
jurisdiction, be ineffective only to the extent of such invalidity,
unenforceability or illegality without affecting the remaining provisions
hereof and without affecting the validity, enforceability or legality of such
provision in any other jurisdiction.

         12.6    Incorporation of Exhibits and Schedules.  All Exhibits and
Schedules referenced in this Agreement, and any statements contained therein or
in any certificate or instrument delivered pursuant hereto, constitute an
integral part of this Agreement and shall be deemed made in this Agreement as
if set forth in full herein.

         12.7    Captions and Headings; Use of term "Person".  Captions and
headings used herein are for convenience only, do not constitute a part of this
Agreement, and shall not be considered in construing this Agreement.  Unless
the context otherwise requires, all article, Section or subsection
cross-references are to articles, Sections and subsections





                                       36
<PAGE>   37
within this Agreement.  As used herein, the term "person" shall mean any
corporation, limited liability  company, partnership, venture, proprietorship,
trust, benefit plan or other entity or enterprise.

         12.8    Governing Law; Venue.  THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND
CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF TEXAS.

         12.9    Notices.  All notices of requests, demands or other
communications required or to be given hereunder shall be delivered by hand,
overnight courier, facsimile transmission, or by United States Mail, postage
prepaid, by registered or certified mail (return receipt requested), to the
addressed indicated below and shall be deemed given when received by the
addressee thereof:

         to the Company:              3210 St. Charles Place
                                      Boca Raton, Florida 33434


         to the Shareholders:         Arthur Biggs
                                      3210 St. Charles Place
                                      Boca Raton, Florida 33434

                                      Denis Gagnon
                                      c/o  Arthur E. Biggs
                                      3210 St. Charles Place
                                      Boca Raton, Florida  33434

         with a copy to:              Nina S. Gordon, P.A.
                                      Broad & Cassel
                                      201 S. Biscayne Blvd., Suite 3000
                                      Miami, Florida  33131

         to Parent and
         Surviving Corporation:       Packaged Ice, Inc.
                                      8572 Katy Freeway, Suite 101
                                      Houston, Texas 77024
                                      Attn:  A.J. Lewis, III, President

         with a copy to:              Alan Schoenbaum
                                      Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer & Feld, L.L.P.
                                      300 Convent St., Suite 1500
                                      San Antonio, Texas 78205

or such other address or addresses as may be expressly designated by either
party by notice given in accordance with the foregoing provision.





                                       37
<PAGE>   38
         12.10   Agents or Brokers.  The Company and the Shareholders and
Parent and Surviving Corporation mutually represent and agree with each other
that no agents or brokers have been utilized in the solicitation or negotiation
of the sale of the Business and no fees, commissions or expenses of any type
shall be due or payable out of the proceeds of the Acquisition Price by any
party to this Agreement.

         12.11   Arbitration.  Any controversy or claim arising out of or
relating to this Agreement, or the breach thereof, including without limitation
any alleged violations of securities laws, shall be settled by binding
arbitration in accordance with the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American
Arbitration Association in San Antonio, Texas and judgment upon the award
rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court having jurisdiction
thereof, and shall not be appealable.  The prevailing party in any such
arbitration shall be entitled to recover its reasonable attorneys' fees and
expenses in connection with any such arbitration.  Judicial proceedings may be
commenced only to enforce this arbitration agreement or to enforce the results
of arbitration; provided that such prohibition shall not apply in the event
that a court ordered injunction is an appropriate remedy for a breach of this
Agreement.

         12.12   Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in counterparts,
each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which shall constitute
the same instrument.


               [DOLPHIN ICE COMPANY AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER
                            SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]





                                       38
<PAGE>   39
                         [DOLPHIN ICE COMPANY AGREEMENT
                       AND PLAN OF MERGER SIGNATURE PAGE]


Executed on the date first written above.


PACKAGED ICE, INC.

By:
   ---------------------------------------------
         Print Name:
                    ----------------------------
         Print Title:
                     ---------------------------

PACKAGED ICE SOUTHEAST, INC.

By:
   ---------------------------------------------
         Print Name:
                    ----------------------------
         Print Title:
                     ---------------------------

DOLPHIN ICE CO., INC.

By:
   ---------------------------------------------
         Print Name:
                    ----------------------------
         Print Title:
                     ---------------------------

SHAREHOLDERS

------------------------------------------------
ARTHUR BIGGS


------------------------------------------------
DENIS GAGON





                                       39
<PAGE>   40
                       LIST OF SCHEDULES AND EXHIBITS

Exhibit A        Assets of the Company

Exhibit B        Assets subject to Capital Leases

Exhibit 5.9      Investment Letter

Exhibit 5.10     Escrow Agreement

Exhibit 5.12     Noncompetition Agreement

Exhibit 5.13     Registration Rights Agreements

Exhibit 5.14     Shareholder Documents

Exhibit 8.1(f)   Opinion of Counsel

the Shareholders' Disclosure Memorandum





                                       40