Smart Warehousing Market Assessment, By Component [Hardware, Solutions, Services] By Deployment [Cloud, On-premises], By Warehouse Size [Small, Medium, Large], By Technology [IoT, Robotics and Automation, AI and Analytics, Networking and Communication, AR and VR, Others], By Application [Inventory Management, Order Fulfillment, Asset Tracking, Predictive Analytics, Others], By Vertical [Transportation and Logistics, Retail and E-commerce, Manufacturing, Healthcare and Life Sciences, Energy and Utilities, Automotive, Food and Beverages, Others] By Region, Opportunities and Forecast, 2017-2031F
Global cold storage market is projected to witness a CAGR of 6.21% during the forecast period 2024-2031, growing from USD 155.46 billion in 2023 to USD 251.73 billion in 2031. Rising demand for iced and chilled food products, increasing awareness about food safety and preservation, and the growing demand for temperature-controlled logistics are key factors driving the market’s growth. GCCA publishes a yearly list that ranks the total capacity of temperature-controlled space operated by GCCA Warehouse Members. Americold Logistics LLC. and Lineage, Inc. are the world’s largest refrigerated warehousing and logistics providers, according to the latest ranking from the Global Cold Chain Alliance (GCCA). Packaging of perishable goods is a significant factor in the cold storage market. Lineage, Inc. uses data to accelerate everything from receiving and retrieving raw material to passing safety checks and making it to the truck, which is a unique way of selling proposition.
Additionally, the surge in demand for frozen food is increasing the cold storage market grow. Millennials and Gen Z prefer frozen meals due to convenience and easy accessibility of choices in the market. Busy professionals relying on ready-to-eat meals and hassle-free options opt for frozen foods with a longer shelf life, driving the global cold storage market growth. Also, consumers with high purchasing power and shifts in lifestyles, coupled with rising expenses on packaged food, led to the rise in demand for packaged and frozen food. In addition, companies in the market plan to introduce new production lines across different divisions to address the demand for frozen food and expand their market presence.
For instance, in July 2023, Conagra Brands, Inc., a prominent branded food firm in North America, announced the launch of over 50 fresh items across the company’s snacks, grocery, and frozen divisions. Iconic brands from Conagra have developed new recipes to offer contemporary, flavorful, and dynamic food to meet the evolved needs of consumers.
Rise in the E-commerce Industry to Drive Market Growth
The rise in e-commerce has increased demand for cold storage solutions, especially in food and pharmaceutical applications, boosting market growth significantly. Consumers have become more concerned with food safety and quality; hence, demand has rapidly expanded due to the need for effective cold storage systems. The rising awareness concerning perishability during transportation and storage leads to an increase in demand for temperature-controlled storage to extend shelf life and maintain the effectiveness of product sensitivity, resulting in demand for cold storage. E-commerce operators also emphasize last-mile delivery, including temperature-controlled logistics, which further demands cold storage facilities to ensure quick delivery of perishable goods adhering to health and safety regulations. E-commerce has also expanded international trade, making cross-border shipping of temperature-sensitive food. Additionally, companies in the global market have announced the establishment of cold storage facilities to enhance last-mile delivery capabilities and delivery of perishable goods.
For instance, in July 2022, Target Brands, Inc. plans to build a new cold storage facility in Florida to improve its grocery delivery capabilities. This facility was part of a larger initiative to enhance its supply chain and respond to the increasing demand for online grocery orders resulting in fast delivery of perishable goods.
Automation and Warehouse Management Software to Drive Market Growth
Automotive and warehouse management software (WMS) is turning out to be very crucial in the optimization of cold storage operations. An increase in efficiency has been a huge benefit with its usage. Inventory management, being one of the key advantages of WMS, enables real-time tracking of stock levels, which is highly essential in cold storage where products are sensitive to temperature. It helps mitigate the risks of stockouts or overstocking, oversees the handling of perishable goods, and reduces waste. Most software solutions are linked with IoT devices, which sense temperatures to ensure products maintain the necessary range and follow health regulations. Automated alerts for deviations in temperatures help to act quickly and protect the quality of the product. Data analytics capabilities in the WMS provide valuable information about inventory movement, temperature shifts, and sales patterns to base purchasing and forecasting for demand. Because of the automation of a large percentage of operations, companies save significant amounts of money that go into labor costs, energy consumption, as well as waste spending, hence motivating investment in more cold storage infrastructure.
For instance, in August 2023, Kroger Co. launched an initiative to enhance its cold storage operations by implementing smart technology solutions. Their new temperature monitoring systems and automated inventory management software have improved product traceability and compliance with food safety regulations to deliver exceptional quality and freshness to its customers.
Frozen Temperature to Dominate the Cold Storage Market
Surging demand for packaged and frozen food, including multiple fruits, vegetables, fish, meat, dairy products, and other goods in the market is a significant contributor to the frozen segment. This segment will dominate in the forecasting years owing to the high demand for perishable products, growing per capita income of the middle class, and increasing awareness of frozen food. Additionally, the hectic lifestyle of people has led to an increase in the demand for ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook food products, driving the growth of cold storage so evident. Advancements in technology ensure the preservation of the quality and nutritional value of frozen products. Key participants in the market are efficiently investing in procuring transport refrigeration and other machines to ensure that the product end-user buys from cold storage manufacturers is cost-effective. Also, companies in the market are planning to establish joint ventures for storing frozen food and expanding their market presence, coupled with addressing the demand for packaged and frozen food.
For instance, in April 2023, Nestlé S.A and private equity firm PAI SAS Partners agreed to set up a joint venture for Nestlé's frozen pizza business in Europe.
North America to Dominate the Cold Storage Market Share
North America is dominating the cold storage market due to an increase in the organized retail sector, awareness of frozen food, and the busy lifestyle of people. Moreover, the increase in the disposable income of consumers and the adoption of new technologies have been the drivers in North America cold storage market growth. Moreover, government initiatives to modernize cold chain infrastructure and stringent food safety standards further propel market growth in emerging countries of North America. In July 2024, the United States government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and Nookat Almasy Cooperative, opened the largest cold storage facility in the Nookat district in Osh Oblast. It will generate 200 full-time jobs and help farmers to expand their sales and market opportunities. With a total storage capacity of 1,000 tons, the facility will enhance food security and improve the livelihoods of farmers across the district. Furthermore, the increasing population leads to a rise in the cold storage market, which is expected to grow more with a rise in urbanization, a boom in the behavior of consumers, and e-commerce. Also, companies in the North American cold storage market are planning to collaborate to expand their market presence and offer better storage solutions.
For instance, in October 2023, Lineage, Inc. announced a collaboration with JBS USA Holdings, Inc. to inaugurate its next-generation automated cold storage facility in Windsor, Colorado. This move will strengthen Lineage's presence in North America.
Future Market Scenario (2024 – 2031F)
Increasing consumer demand for fresh and frozen foods is expected to be driven more by changing dietary preferences and an increase in online grocery shopping.
The rise of e-commerce, especially in the food and pharmaceutical industries, is expected to attract more companies to invest in the market.
Stringent regulations from governments will make people more careful about their food habits, leading to upgrades in cold storage facilities.
Companies are expected to re-evaluate their supply chains post-pandemic, leading to more localized and resilient cold storage options.
Key Players Landscape and Outlook
Companies in the market are investing in research and development to create advanced, efficient cold storage that meets evolving consumer needs, such as better refrigerated perishable goods. They are taking care of consumers’ disposable income to make goods available at better prices with enhanced quality as awareness among people is rising about the food they are consuming. Companies are setting up their plant at wide locations, especially urbanized and semi-urbanized areas, to target a maximum number of people having busy lifestyles. In addition, key participants in the market are adopting different market growth strategies, including joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, new product launches, partnerships, and others to expand their market portfolio and market presence.
In August 2024, the United States cold chain storage and logistics operator Lineage, Inc. announced its launch of a forthcoming initial public offering (IPO) on the Nasdaq stock exchange. The company mentioned that it would sell 47 million common stocks, priced in the range of USD 70-USD 82 per share, implying that Lineage hopes to raise between USD 3.29 billion and USD 3.85 billion through the sale.