Every year, 80 million people add to the world’s population. In this growing population, food consumption rates are skyrocketing. As global agriculture grows, there is a worldwide demand to expand the cold storage industry. Perishable foods are the largest, most profitable and fastest growing sector of the agricultural trade.
Additionally, frozen and refrigerated food categories for the retail and food service industries are on the rise. Given these dynamic increases, the cold chain is fast becoming a central element of all types of global trade in almost all commodities. In turn, refrigerated warehouses are growing to keep up and offer more specialized and individualized services to those in the food manufacturing industry.
Globalization has made the relative distance between areas of the world much smaller; however, the physical separation of these same regions remains a very important reality. The greater the physical separation, the more likely it is that the cargo will be damaged while moving in the import and export processes. To ensure that shipments are not compromised during transportation, many companies turn to and rely on cold chain technology.
The cold storage industry is expanding and going beyond a traditional freezer unit. The market consists of many quality storage facilities, but those that offer individualized value-added services as part of a complete package are far more successful than the competition. In today’s market, customers demand services such as inventory tracking, recovery efforts, export services, and transportation throughout the cold supply chain. They are looking for a single cold store company to perform all functions.
Factors such as high service levels, lower cost, faster inventory turns, faster reporting, and the ability to provide customers with faster and more efficient service have also driven the change. Rather than simply operating as overflow warehouses, refrigerated warehouses offer much more to customers.
Cold storage companies are consolidating services, making them more convenient and profitable for their customers. The storage facility is no longer just storage. The facility receives fresh produce, blast freezes it, obtains export certificates and USDA seals of approval. Certified third-party logistics professionals select and pack containers, consolidate cargo for distribution, and make all arrangements until the shipment leaves the port.
Food companies are also coming under pressure to address the challenges that arise in food transportation. Fortunately, increasingly efficient global transportation networks are making it possible to get food from distant places to stores, restaurants, and homes before it spoils. In turn, manufacturers benefit from a more developed, streamlined and streamlined cold supply chain. This link in the chain ensures that they are not burdened by the large investment of holding large amounts of inventory.
Since cold storage companies have so much flexibility, their potential is limitless. As cold storage services become more important with each passing day, the growing future of such facilities is hard to deny. A cold store that offers third-party logistics is one of the most important links in the cold chain. Ensures the freshest and most sanitary food and produce reaches shelves and kitchen tables.