UK Cold Chain on the Rise: How Leading Operators Are Driving Innovation and Growth
The UK cold chain is experiencing a period of rapid evolution, shaped by the combined forces of consumer demand, regulatory change, sustainability pressures, and technological advancement. For professionals across the sector, this is not just a story of growth in volume, but of transformation in how temperature-controlled logistics is delivered, managed and measured.
From new warehouse builds and AI-powered route optimisation to fleet electrification and cross-border logistics redesign, the market is responding to modern supply chain realities. Leading operators are stepping up with solutions that are not only fit for today, but also flexible enough for what lies ahead.
Building Smarter, Not Just Bigger
A surge in demand for frozen and chilled food, coupled with increased reliance on online grocery and just-in-case inventory strategies, has pushed the UK cold chain to expand capacity. But growth is no longer just about space. Operators are now investing in facilities that offer more capability, better energy performance, and integrated value-added services.
MagnaVale’s newly opened site in Easton, Lincolnshire is a prime example. Designed as the UK’s largest high-bay automated cold store, it delivers over 100,000 pallet positions while running entirely on renewable energy. This site includes not only storage but also advanced blast freezing and tempering, forming part of a larger vision for a low-carbon food logistics campus. Investments of this scale and ambition are helping shift the sector away from fragmented storage toward strategic hubs that combine efficiency with environmental responsibility.
Meanwhile, network expansion through acquisition continues to reshape the competitive landscape. Constellation Cold Logistics has grown its UK footprint significantly through the acquisitions of HSH Coldstores and ACS&T Logistics, creating a national platform with increased operational reach. These moves allow for greater flexibility and responsiveness across regions, with the ability to serve manufacturers, processors and retailers through a single point of contact.
Americold, another key player, has applied global expertise to modernise UK operations since its acquisition of Agro Merchants. At its Whitchurch campus, the company now offers mixed-temperature storage, blast tunnels and protein tempering services, giving customers a versatile facility that supports multiple product types and end uses. These enhancements demonstrate how large-scale, integrated logistics sites are replacing traditional single-purpose cold stores.
Innovation on the Road
Progress is equally visible in the transport side of the cold chain. Pressure from rising fuel prices, new emissions regulations, and growing climate commitments is pushing operators to find cleaner, more cost-effective ways to move chilled and frozen goods.
Samworth Brothers Supply Chain has taken a proactive approach, rolling out battery-electric refrigeration units across its fleet after successful trials with Sunswap. These systems, partly powered by solar panels on the trailer roof, eliminate the need for diesel TRUs and significantly reduce noise and emissions. The company expects to prevent over 400 tonnes of carbon emissions in the coming decade through this switch, proving that sustainability and operational performance can go hand in hand.
FreshLinc is also making its refrigerated fleet more efficient. By equipping new trailers with electrically driven refrigeration systems powered by PTO generators, the company is reducing its dependence on diesel without compromising cooling reliability. This solution improves fuel efficiency and lowers both running costs and environmental impact.
Other operators are moving in the same direction. Culina Group, through Fowler Welch, has transitioned a large portion of its fleet to hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), replacing over two million litres of fossil diesel last year alone. Alongside this, Fowler Welch has expanded its cross-docking capabilities in Warrington to support Northern Ireland trade routes, adding strategic resilience to its chilled supply chain.
The Rise of Digital Logistics
Technology is playing a growing role in how cold chains are optimised. From warehouse automation to AI route planning, the integration of digital tools is helping operators increase throughput, reduce energy consumption and improve service accuracy.
GXO’s work with Iceland Foods is a clear illustration. By introducing machine learning tools to optimise deliveries from one of Iceland’s UK depots, the company has managed to reduce truck mileage by nearly one million kilometres annually. The result is lower fuel use, fewer emissions and more efficient delivery schedules. These gains are now being replicated across multiple sites.
On the warehouse floor, automation is becoming essential, especially in frozen environments where recruitment and retention of labour can be difficult. Operators like MagnaVale and Americold are leading the shift with automated storage and retrieval systems that allow for high-density storage, faster handling and reduced exposure to harsh conditions for workers.
This drive toward automation is not just about technology for its own sake. It is part of a wider move to build a more resilient, predictable and efficient cold chain that can withstand labour shortages, seasonal spikes and unexpected disruptions.
Rewiring the Supply Chain for Post-Brexit Realities
The regulatory backdrop has also changed significantly, especially since Brexit. Operators have had to rethink how goods move across borders, how customs are cleared, and how delays can be avoided while maintaining product integrity.
FreshLinc has addressed this challenge directly by transforming its Spalding depot into a Border Control Post. This enables perishable goods to clear customs closer to destination, rather than waiting at congested ports. The result is shorter delivery times and better control over quality for imported produce.
Similarly, Fowler Welch has developed a streamlined GB to Northern Ireland cold chain solution. By opening a new consolidation hub in Warrington and working closely with its Irish logistics partner Morgan McLernon, it has helped retailers maintain chilled product availability in stores, despite evolving trade rules.
These developments reflect a growing trend: logistics providers are now active partners in navigating regulatory complexity, rather than passive handlers of goods.
A Sector Aligning with Net Zero
Cold storage and distribution are inherently energy-intensive. The challenge now is how to deliver these services while dramatically lowering emissions. This imperative is shaping investment decisions across the sector.
Over a quarter of UK cold stores now operate on renewable electricity. Older refrigerants with high global warming potential are being phased out in favour of natural alternatives like CO₂. Operators are designing facilities that use insulation, smart defrosting, and demand-response strategies to manage energy use more effectively.
Many operators, including GXO, Samworth Brothers and MagnaVale, are also aligning their strategies with Scope 3 emissions reduction, supporting retailers and manufacturers that must meet their own environmental targets. For 3PLs and storage providers, the ability to offer measurable, verifiable emissions reductions is becoming a competitive advantage.
Looking Ahead
The growth of the UK cold chain is undeniable, but the most significant change is not the size of the network—it is its evolution in purpose and design. Operators are moving beyond transactional logistics toward value-driven partnerships that prioritise transparency, adaptability and environmental performance.
In doing so, they are helping clients respond to supply chain disruption, meet consumer expectations for freshness and sustainability, and comply with increasingly complex regulatory frameworks. The cold chain is no longer just about temperature. It is about trust, intelligence and resilience.
For professionals working in the sector, this is a pivotal moment. Those who invest in the right infrastructure, systems and relationships now will not just meet demand, but shape the direction of the market in the years to come.
