🧊 Loomis expands its pharma business by acquiring Kipfer-Logistik

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

In today’s edition:

• Loomis expands its Pharma business by acquiring Kipfer-Logistik

• Cold Chain Technologies partners with E&I to bring cold chain solutions to the education sector

• Cognizant and Lineage partner to set customer experience standard in the cold chain

• UK farm adopts solar-powered refrigeration

News

Loomis expands its pharma business by acquiring Kipfer-Logistik Loomis AB has agreed to acquire 100% of Kipfer-Logistik GmbH, a Swiss logistics company specializing in temperature-controlled transport and storage for pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors.

• The acquisition, expected to close September 1, 2025, will expand Loomis' existing pharma business, which began offering temperature-controlled pharmaceutical transport in Switzerland in 2024.

• Kipfer-Logistik focuses on high-security, temperature-controlled road freight transport for pharmaceutical products.

• Following the acquisition, Kipfer-Logistik will be integrated into Loomis's International business line within the Europe and Latin America segment.

• According to Loomis President and CEO Aritz Larrea, the acquisition will accelerate Loomis pharma's growth by incorporating an established Swiss logistics specialist, enabling the company to offer customers a more comprehensive service range and strengthen its market position. (PR Newswire)

Cold Chain Technologies partners with E&I to bring cold chain solutions to the education sector Cold Chain Technologies (CCT) has partnered with E&I Cooperative Services, a non-profit sourcing cooperative serving the education sector.

• This partnership provides over 6,000 E&I member institutions—including colleges, universities, K-12 schools, and research labs—with streamlined access to CCT's cold chain solutions for scientific research, lab operations, and health sciences training.

• Through E&I's competitively solicited contracts, members gain access to CCT's product portfolio including the Rx Series for last-mile distribution, the recyclable Rx Naturals line, and Advanced SU setups featuring vacuum insulated panels for precise temperature control during shipping.

• The partnership supports CCT's mission of protecting temperature-sensitive materials while offering educational institutions efficient access to trusted cold chain technology. (AJOT)

Cognizant and Lineage partner to set customer experience standard in the cold chain Cognizant and Lineage, Inc. have expanded their strategic partnership to transform customer service standards in cold chain logistics.

• The collaboration focuses on implementing Agentic AI solutions and advanced technologies to enhance Lineage's customer care operations while maintaining existing customer relationships with trusted service professionals.

• Lineage will leverage Cognizant's logistics expertise and AI technologies to deliver more personalized, consistent, and responsive customer experiences.

• The partnership builds upon Lineage's "One Lineage" framework, which emphasizes unified tools and processes across their diverse network.

• Customers will retain their established relationships with dedicated points of contact while benefiting from enhanced capabilities powered by Cognizant's global customer service infrastructure.

• Key improvements include greater service consistency, expanded resources, predictive insights, and automation capabilities integrated with existing systems like Lineage Link. (Cognizant)

UK farm adopts solar-powered refrigeration Staples Vegetables, a Lincolnshire-based farm supplying major UK retailers, has become the first in the UK fresh produce sector to adopt solar-powered refrigeration technology.

• The company integrated two Sunswap Endurance zero-emission refrigeration units into its logistics fleet, fitted to 15.65-metre trailers for transporting brassicas, leeks, potatoes, and sweetcorn.

• The solar-powered system delivers substantial cost and environmental benefits. Staples estimates a 78% reduction in operational refrigeration costs compared to diesel systems and a 27% decrease in total ownership costs over ten years.

• The units are projected to eliminate 256 tonnes of CO₂ emissions over the same period, equivalent to removing 18 average UK vehicles annually from roads.

• Since deployment in June 2025, the refrigeration units have drawn 96% of their power from solar energy without requiring external grid charging, even during heatwaves.

• Following successful summer 2023 trials that maintained consistent temperatures when loading produce directly from fields, the farm deployed the system commercially. (Fresh Plaza)

Other headlines

The American Frozen Food Institute and GCCA have developed a new international temperature monitoring protocol that standardizes cold chain operations from production to distribution, aiming to improve food quality, reduce energy consumption, and enhance operational transparency across the global frozen food industry.

Snowman Logistics Ltd reported 16% revenue growth to ₹162.70 crore (USD 18.5 million) in Q1 FY 2025-26, adding three new cold chain facilities in Kolkata, Krishnapatnam, and Kundli and expanding its temperature-controlled logistics network across India.

Carrier Transicold has launched the UK's first IMI-accredited Level 3 training programme for refrigerated transport engineers to work on high-voltage electric refrigeration systems, aiming to certify 50% of its 200+ service partner engineers by end-2025.

Geotab has launched an upgraded cold chain solution featuring new IOX-COLD hardware devices and enhanced MyGeotab software capabilities to provide businesses with improved temperature monitoring, real-time visibility, and compliance assurance for temperature-sensitive shipments.

Four Winds Saudi Arabia Limited has received an SFDA licence to store medical devices and supplies at its new 10,000 sqm cold chain logistics facility, strengthening pharmaceutical supply chains and supporting Saudi Vision 2030's healthcare objectives.

Identec Solutions has successfully implemented its Reefer Runner fully automated reefer monitoring system at the Austrian national rail operator ÖBB-Infrastruktur AG’s Wolfurt Terminal that allows for real-time remote monitoring of refrigerated containers at the terminal.

Bangladesh's ice cream industry is experiencing a transformative boom with 15% annual growth, reaching Tk 3,000 crore (USD 246 million) market size driven by rising incomes, urbanization, and growing middle-class demand for premium frozen desserts.

That’s it for this week!

If you have feedback or suggestions, please don't hesitate to respond directly to this email.

We look forward to hearing from you.

P.S. Did someone share this with you? Subscribe here.