🧊 CubeCold secures c.€400m infrastructure financing platform

Welcome back to CubeCold News where we cover the latest developments in the cold chain industry and temperature-controlled logistics.

In today’s edition:

• CubeCold has successfully established a c.€400 million financing platform

• DHL & RLCold plan 5 million sq ft of modern food cold‑chain facilities

• Hub Group acquires Choptank Transport to strengthen cold chain and brokerage capabilities

• Sunswap enters Australian market with electric transport refrigeration units

• Carrier’s Sensitech and Transicold divisions unveil cold‑chain innovations at Fruit Logistica

CubeCold

CubeCold has successfully established a c.€400 million infrastructure financing platform to support the next phase of growth of its pan-European cold storage business.

The platform was structured with the support of Macquarie Capital, who acted as exclusive debt adviser, leveraging deep sector expertise to secure market-leading terms.

CubeCold is a leading independent pan-European cold storage platform, providing mission-critical temperature-controlled infrastructure for food and pharmaceutical supply chains.

News

DHL & RLCold plan 5 million sq ft of modern food cold‑chain facilities DHL Supply Chain and cold storage developer RLCold signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly develop more than 5 million sq ft of multi‑temperature food‑grade cold storage capacity across North America.

• The partners said the U.S. cold storage market suffers from an aging infrastructure (average warehouse age about 31 years), forcing shippers to use multiple facilities.

• Their plan calls for state‑of‑the‑art distribution centres with high‑density racking, zones ranging from frozen to chilled, humidity control, sustainable refrigeration technology and capacity for multi‑tenant users.

• Initial sites will enter design in 2026 and be delivered in phases based on customer demand.

• DHL said the investment closes critical gaps in the U.S. cold chain and supports growth in fresh food, e‑grocery and premium goods. (AJOT)

Hub Group acquires Choptank Transport to strengthen cold chain and brokerage capabilities Hub Group has acquired Choptank Transport for $130 million in cash, adding a leading non-asset refrigerated transportation provider to its supply chain solutions portfolio.

• Founded in 2000, Choptank has built an extensive network of over 20,000 carriers across North America specializing in chilled and frozen freight.

• The acquisition expands Hub Group's brokerage business to over $1 billion in combined revenue across dry van, refrigerated, and LTL freight.

• Hub Group will also gain Choptank's proprietary technology platform to enhance its brokerage operations.

• The deal complements Hub's existing fleet of 450 refrigerated intermodal containers, with plans to add 550 units in 2022 to reach 1,000 containers.

• Choptank's 400 employees and management team will remain with the business, with contingent compensation arrangements to incentivize retention and growth. (GlobeNewswire)

Lineage sells California cold storage facility Lineage Logistics has sold a cold storage warehouse in Santa Maria, California for approximately $60 million, continuing the reshaping of its U.S. asset base.

• The facility totals around 226,000 square feet and was originally developed by Lineage in 2014.

• It includes c. 30,000 pallet positions, significant frozen and refrigerated storage capacity, blast-freezing infrastructure, and food-processing space, making it a high-spec asset within the California cold chain market.

• The buyer was Arctic Cold, which financed the acquisition with a $30 million loan from UMB Bank.

• The transaction expands Arctic Cold’s California footprint and strengthens its presence in a strategically important agricultural and food-processing region. (Commercial Property)

Sunswap enters Australian market with electric transport refrigeration units UK-based Sunswap has expanded into Australia through a partnership with Protran Solutions, marking the company's sixth international market following operations in the UK, Belgium, the Netherlands, France, and Chile.

• Protran Solutions will provide local sales, service, and technical support for Sunswap's battery and solar powered Endurance transport refrigeration units.

• The Endurance units offer up to 81% reduction in operating costs compared to diesel-powered systems while eliminating traditional maintenance complexity.

• The units deliver 24 hours of frozen operation from a single charge, with trailer-mounted solar panels extending range and reducing charging frequency.

• Temperature capabilities span from -25°C for frozen goods to ambient control, suitable for demanding commercial transport routes.

• The company's Endurance units currently operate for major retailers and logistics operators across its existing European and South American markets. (Fleet Owner)

Carrier’s Sensitech and Transicold divisions unveil cold‑chain innovations at Fruit Logistica Carrier (through Sensitech and Carrier Transicold) announced four innovations ahead of the Fruit Logistica 2026 exhibition in Berlin.

• SensiWatch is a monitoring platform that provides end‑to‑end visibility, including vessel location and predictive arrival times.

• The TempTale GEO device collects real‑time temperature, humidity, light and location data for cold chain cargo.

• OptimaLINE is a refrigerated container system designed to reduce energy consumption and CO₂ emissions, while the EverFRESH controlled‑atmosphere system extends produce shelf life by actively controlling oxygen and carbon dioxide levels.

• The company will demonstrate the products at Fruit Logistica on 4–6 February in Berlin. (Carrier)

Other headlines

Hydropac launched HydroFreeze, a water-based ice pack for pharma logistics offering 51% faster freezing, 110% longer thaw protection, and lower freeze-down temperature requirements compared to its predecessor.

Carreras Grupo Logístico opened a 14,000 m² multi-temperature logistics hub in Valladolid, Spain, featuring ambient, controlled, and refrigerated storage with 20 loading docks and BREEAM Excellent certification.

ColdStar Logistics opened a 220,000 sq ft temperature-controlled facility in Pune's Chakan Phase II with daily processing capacity exceeding 300,000 units, serving fast moving consumer goods and fresh produce distribution across Maharashtra.

Africa CDC opened its first 1,000 m² cold storage medical supplies warehouse at its Addis Ababa headquarters, funded by the Mastercard Foundation and developed with WFP supply chain support to strengthen emergency health response across the continent.

That’s it for this week!

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