Welcome back to CubeCold News where we cover the latest developments in the cold chain industry and temperature controlled logistics.
In today’s edition:
Trane Technologies opens global AI lab and showroom in Montréal
Americold expands European retail operations with addition of Jerónimo Martins
Cathay Cargo redefines cold chain excellence via Hong Kong's strategic nexus
Pacific Dream Seafoods breaks ground on new Burlington facility
2026 board leadership announced for GCCA and GCCF
Notable Developments
Trane Technologies opens global AI lab and showroom in Montréal
Trane Technologies has officially opened the BrainBox AI Trane Technologies AI Lab and showroom in Montréal, Canada, marking a significant milestone in the company's strategy to develop AI-driven solutions that reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions in the built environment.
Located in one of the world's leading AI innovation hubs, the facility brings together researchers, software engineers, data scientists, and technologists focused on advancing autonomous HVAC and transport refrigeration systems.
An adjacent showroom allows customers to explore how agentic AI and predictive models are reshaping building operations.
First announced in August 2025, the lab builds on Trane Technologies' acquisition of BrainBox AI and is supported by a network of technology and academic partners including AWS, IVADO, and Concordia University.
Riaz Raihan, Senior Vice President and Chief Digital Officer, emphasized the lab's role in delivering scalable digital solutions amid surging customer demand for energy and emissions reducing technologies. (Business Wire)
Americold expands European retail operations with addition of Jerónimo Martins Americold has announced a new multi-year partnership with Jerónimo Martins, Portugal's leading retail group, marking the company's second major retail customer win in Europe within the past year.
Under the agreement, Americold will manage the storage and store case pick fulfillment of approximately 12 million cases of frozen products annually, serving roughly 300 retail stores across Portugal.
Operations are centralized at Americold's Lisbon facility, which has been enhanced through refurbished cold storage chambers and increased throughput capacity.
CEO Rob Chambers highlighted retail and quick-service restaurant customer growth as key priorities for 2026, while President of International Richard Winnall emphasized the company's standardized operating model as a key differentiator at scale.
Americold operates more than 220 facilities globally, totaling approximately 1.4 billion refrigerated cubic feet. (Business Insider)
Cathay Cargo redefines cold chain excellence via Hong Kong's strategic nexus Cathay Cargo is leveraging Hong Kong's geographic advantage - the ability to reach half the world's population within a five-hour flight - to strengthen its position as a premier cold chain aviation gateway for the Greater Bay Area and global markets.
Through its integrated Cathay Fresh and Cathay Pharma solutions, the carrier offers end-to-end temperature-controlled logistics across perishables and life sciences.
Cathay Fresh utilizes the Airport Authority Hong Kong's Air-Land Fresh Lane initiative, enabling seamless intermodal connectivity for premium perishables such as live seafood and seasonal fruits under a single air waybill, with refrigerated customs access in Zhuhai bypassing complex mainland re-registration.
Cathay Pharma operates the largest dedicated Pharma Handling Centre at Hong Kong International Airport, supporting four temperature ranges and offering near-real-time cargo visibility through its Ultra Track data-logging system.
Together, the solutions are underpinned by IATA CEIV Fresh and CEIV Pharma certifications, ensuring the highest standards of safety and integrity. (Channel News Asia)
Pacific Dream Seafoods breaks ground on new Burlington facility Pacific Dream Seafoods has commenced construction on a new 61,000 sq ft seafood processing and cold storage facility in Burlington, Washington, with completion expected by mid-2027.
Built by Chad Fisher Construction (CFC), the design-build project is sited on a six-acre lot in Skagit County and will feature modern seafood processing areas, expanded freezer and cooler storage, blast freezers, an ice room, two levels of office space, and a covered loading dock.
The facility is designed to significantly increase Pacific Dream Seafoods' production and storage capacity to meet growing regional demand for high-quality seafood products.
Duke Fisher, Owner of Chad Fisher Construction, noted the project will bring jobs and long-term economic benefits to Burlington and the broader Skagit County region. (EIN Presswire)
2026 board leadership announced for GCCA and GCCF The Global Cold Chain Alliance (GCCA) has announced its volunteer board leadership for 2026, a year marked by significant organizational transformation.
Following bylaw updates consolidating governance into a single unified board, the newly structured leadership reflects the early 2026 formal merger of the legacy International Association of Refrigerated Warehouses (IARW) and the International Refrigerated Transportation Association (IRTA) under the GCCA banner.
GCCA President and CEO Sara Stickler noted the importance of experienced leadership during this strategic evolution.
The 2026 GCCA Board of Directors is chaired by Tim Ludwig of Congebec, with Francisco Moura of IceStar Logistics serving as Vice Chair.
The Global Cold Chain Foundation (GCCF) Board of Governors is chaired by Adam Forste of Lineage Logistics.
Together, both boards represent the full breadth of the temperature controlled logistics industry, spanning refrigerated warehousing, transportation, international development, and scientific research. (GCCA)
Other headlines
The Cold Chain Federation secured a government extension of the 5p fuel duty freeze, a reduction in red diesel duty rates, and a 12-month HGV Vehicle Excise Duty suspension following its campaign highlighting rising fuel costs on temperature controlled logistics.
Sunswap secured AUD $10 million from the Clean Energy Finance Corporation to deploy more than 100 Endurance fully electric refrigeration units across Australian retail and logistics fleets, distributed through local partner Protran Solutions.
Oddbox has joined Mindful Chef at Oakland International's Redditch site in a shared infrastructure partnership aimed at scaling sustainable packing operations, reducing food waste, and expanding Oddbox's reach across the UK.
That’s it for this week!
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