🧊 Cube Cold expands its presence at North Sea Port

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

In today’s edition:

• Cube Cold expands its presence at North Sea Port

• Nikirei Logistics is reorganising its European subsidiaries

• 2024 US cold storage outlook

• Ayala Corp. eyes more cold storage

• Robbert Jan te Raa appointed as VP Solutions & Engineering at Constellation Cold

Cube Cold

A hot spot for a cold cube Northfreeze, part of the Cube Cold group, is building a new refrigerated storage facility at North Sea Port, expected to be operational by the first quarter of 2025.

• The new facility in Evergem will boost Northfreeze’s storage capacity by 54,000 pallets, effectively doubling its total capacity in North Sea Port.

• Northfreeze is a well-known brand in North Sea Por where it operates three sites in the Port of Ghent, along with two smaller facilities in Westerlo and Brugge.

• The new warehouse will be state-of-the-art, with 60 loading docks, automated systems, and technology like blast freezing and temperature monitoring. It will support frozen, chilled, and ambient storage for food and pharmaceutical clients.

• The warehouse is designed with a focus on low energy consumption, featuring solar panels and possibly a wind turbine.

• Cube Cold, a fast-growing cold storage platform is investing in facilities across Europe.

• Currently, Cube Cold's network includes 18 facilities, with ambitions to expand across Europe, targeting a pallet capacity of over 700,000. (link)

News

Nikirei Logistics is reorganising its European subsidiaries Nichirei Logistics Group announced it is consolidating and merging its European subsidiaries into a single entity effective January 1, 2024. This includes its businesses across the UK, Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, and France.

• The merger brings together the various Nichirei companies in Europe under one unified entity. The goal is to integrate operations, optimize efficiency, share capabilities and resources, and strengthen Nichirei's position as a leader in European cold chain logistics.

• Nichirei has been expanding in Europe, both organically and through acquisitions. Key deals include acquiring 50% of UK's Kevin Hancock Limited in late 2022 to become a wholly-owned subsidiary and the purchase of Northern Ireland's Norish cold storage companies in 2021.

• The European merger builds on Nichirei Logistics Group's 30+ years of cold chain services in Europe that started in 1988 with the acquisition of a facility in Rotterdam, Netherlands.

• The consolidation aims to support an integrated pan-European cold chain network and end-to-end supply chain solutions for its food, pharmaceutical, and other clients. (link)

2024 US cold storage outlook The cold storage industry is set to continue its growth and innovation in 2024, following a record-setting year for new developments.

• Cold storage is considered critical infrastructure in the U.S. and globally, necessary for sustaining the food chain.

• The global cold storage construction market is projected to reach over $32 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 13.6%.

• The U.S. is expected to lead in cold storage construction, with China, Japan, Canada, and Germany also forecasted to grow at double-digit CAGRs.

• Demand for cold storage space is expected to continue, with every strategic plan for ports aiming to grow over the next 15 years expected to include cold storage.

• Cold storage has proven to be "recession-proof, pandemic-proof," and ports catering to the largest class vessels will require more pallet positions and associated services nearby.

• Additional developments at ports in the Southeast and Gulf are expected due to lower congestion and more available land.

• 2023 saw new entrants in the cold storage business in the US, including Progressive Logistics, which opened a 300,000-square-foot warehouse in Greenfield, Indiana through its sister company, PL Cold. (link)

CJ Logistics America to Open New, State-of-the-Art Cold Storage Warehouse in Georgia CJ Logistics America, a leading supply chain and technology company, has announced plans to open a new, state-of-the-art cold storage warehouse in Gainesville, Georgia.

• The project is being led by RL Cold, a leader in the cold storage development industry.

• The 270,000 square foot facility will feature Alta EXPERT Refrigeration Systems and QFM blast, the latest evolution in QuickFreeze technology.

• The warehouse is strategically located in the Atlanta market, centered in the poultry industry, and has direct access to major highways and railways.

• It is also adjacent to the future Northeast Georgia Inland Port, providing a direct link to the Port of Savannah.

• The facility will offer 30,000 racked pallet positions and a USDA office and inspection room. (link)

Ayala Corp. eyes more cold storage The Ayala Group, one of the largest conglomerates in the Philippines, is looking to expand into the cold storage business to support the country's agriculture industry.

• Ayala Corp Chairman Jaime Zobel de Ayala stated the group aims "to put a little focus on the logistics side" by building more cold storage facilities nationwide.

• Ayala's logistics subsidiary AC Logistics Holdings, led by President Jose Rene Almendras, is actively looking for opportunities and has already begun some cold storage projects.

• Ayala sees cold storage as an indirect investment opportunity to aid the agriculture sector with supply chain infrastructure and reduce food spoilage.

• Ayala plans to establish additional cold storage sites across the Philippines, with potential for larger 10,000+ pallet facilities based on demand. (link)

Other headlines

Constellation Cold Logistics appoints Robbert Jan te Raa as VP Solutions & Engineering Robbert Jan brings almost 20 years of industry experience designing and developing greenfield and expansion projects.

J&J Snack Foods optimizes distribution with second cold storage facility of over 20,000 pallets of frozen food storage in Woolwich, New Jersey.

That’s it for today!

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