Topic
Cold Chain
Supply Chain Grip taps industry veteran John Hummel to lead cold chain fulfillment expansion
Grip, a Miami-based cold chain fulfillment company, has appointed John Hummel as president of Grip Fulfillment. Hummel brings 40 years of experience from Burris Logistics, UNFI, and Reinhart Foodservice. Grip has shipped $3 billion in perishable goods since 2022 and operates five fulfillment centers reaching 80% of the U.S. population within 24 hours.
Supply Chain Aqua Trace App Launched to Boost Shrimp Traceability, Curb Export Rejections
The Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry has launched the Aqua Trace app for aquaculture farms and hatcheries to establish a robust traceability system and strengthen compliance with international food safety standards. The move comes as shrimp export rejections, though low at 0.13% average from 2018-26, have caused financial losses, with 17 rejections in 2026 costing ₹7.45 crore. The government has also introduced new regulations banning certain antibiotics and stepped up capacity building.
Logistics Marten Transport Q2 Signals Reefer Market Tightening; Capacity Cuts and Rate Hikes Underway
Marten Transport reported Q2 results indicating a sharp tightening in the refrigerated truckload market. CEO Randy Marten said the freight market is breaking out from the longest recession on record, with regulatory enforcement removing capacity. The company raised rates, improved freight selection, and saw revenue per loaded mile increase 6% year-over-year in its non-dedicated TL fleet, despite an 8% reduction in tractor count.
Commodities India’s Fresh Produce Industry Reinvents with Tech, but Fragmentation Remains a Hurdle
India's fresh produce industry is undergoing a technology-driven reinvention, with companies investing in post-harvest infrastructure, computer vision grading, and traceability. However, the sector remains highly fragmented, with over 85% of fruits and vegetables passing through traditional wholesale markets, limiting technology adoption at the farm level.
Supply Chain Kerala Fisheries Minister Calls for Strengthening Sustainable Refrigeration Technologies in Seafood Industry
Kerala Fisheries Minister V. E. Abdul Gafoor has called for adopting energy-efficient and sustainable refrigeration technologies to strengthen the seafood processing sector. Speaking at a workshop on natural refrigerant-based systems, he highlighted the importance of innovative cold-chain technologies to enhance product quality, export competitiveness, and reduce post-harvest losses. The event, part of the INDEE3 Project supported by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, featured experts from research institutions, industry, and government.
Logistics ICAR-CIFT Secures Indian Patent for Chemical-Free Live Fish Transport Technology Using Controlled Hypothermia
ICAR-CIFT has been granted an Indian patent for a chemical-free live fish transport technology that uses controlled hypothermia to anaesthetise aquatic animals, reducing stress and mortality during transit. The innovation offers a reliable, affordable alternative for small and medium-scale users in the live seafood supply chain.
Supply Chain Why addressing post-harvest loss as a farmer income problem reshapes cold chain supply chain strategy
India loses 74 million tonnes of food annually post-harvest. Framing this as a farmer income problem rather than just food security shifts focus from large cold chain infrastructure to localised solutions like micro cold storage and market information. For procurement and supply chain leaders, this highlights the need to design downstream resilience with the smallholder farmer in mind.
Supply Chain Rail, Ocean Access Backs New Americold Cold Chain Facility at Eastern Canada Port
Americold Realty Trust, in collaboration with DP World and CPKC, has opened a temperature-controlled import-export hub at Port Saint John, New Brunswick. The facility is the first in eastern Canada with direct port access without drayage, with 22,000 pallet positions connecting inland regions to global markets via Hapag-Lloyd and Gemini Cooperation services.
Supply Chain UPS Invests $48 Million in 27 Cold Transfer Facilities for Pharma Logistics
UPS has opened 27 temperature-controlled cross-dock facilities globally, investing $48 million to support pharmaceutical manufacturers and biotech firms. The facilities aim to minimize handoffs and temperature excursions, addressing cold-chain failures that cost up to $35 billion per year and cause 50% of global vaccine waste. The expansion underscores UPS's strategic push to double healthcare logistics revenue to $20 billion by 2026.
Logistics Norebo Expands Shipping Arm with Dalreefer Takeover, Bolstering Russian Reefer Capacity
Russian seafood group Norebo has acquired Far East-based reefer operator Dalreefer, adding five vessels to its logistics arm. The deal strengthens Norebo's vertical integration in cold-chain shipping for frozen fish exports from Russia's Pacific grounds, as Russian seafood producers seek greater logistics control amid sanctions.
Supply Chain Cold Storage Bottlenecks as Gulf Cargo Diverts to India
The diversion of Gulf cargo to India has led to significant cold storage bottlenecks, affecting supply chain operations. This disruption has caused inventory challenges and increased costs for companies relying on timely imports.