In the past, families would often enjoy homemade meals made with ingredients purchased from their local grocery store. However, in today’s fast-paced world, many consumers are turning to online shopping for convenience. As a result of this shift and the globalization of food sources, there has been a positive impact on the industrial cold storage sector.
According to Research and Markets data quoted by Cushman & Wakefield experts Greg Millerd , Stephen Fife , and Mike Schaeffer in a recent article release, the global cold storage market was valued at $190 billion in 2024 and is expected to grow at an annual compound rate of 17% until 2030.
To gain insight into where this industry is headed, these experts shared their perspectives on defining cold storage facilities. These specialized structures are designed for storing various products at controlled temperatures ranging from -20 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit. They typically have high clear heights (up to 100 feet), special floor systems with glycol piping for temperature control, vapor barriers to prevent condensation buildup,and refrigerated loading docks.
There are different types of cold storage facilities including cool or freezer facilities as well as tri-temp facilities that can accommodate both cool and frozen products simultaneously. When selecting a location for such a facility,zoning requirements,power supply availability,and logistical considerations all play important roles.
The demand (or lack thereof) within the industry is largely driven by consumer preferences accordingto these experts.Families continue relying on frozen foods due mainly because they’re convenientand affordable.Accordingly,the American Frozen Food Institute reports that even fast-casual restaurantsare incorporating more frozen items onto their menus.In terms of gross general warehouse capacity,the top five states include California,Washington,Wisconsin,Texas,and Florida respectively,in million cubic square feet measurements.As economies aroundthe world recover followingthe pandemic,U.S.trade activity will likely increase which bodes wellfor continued growth withinthecoldstorageindustry moving forward.
