Em 2025, the cold chain industry is booming and complex. Cold chain supply companies handle everything from refrigerated logistics and packaging to specialised equipment, making it possible for vaccines, fresh food and biotech products to travel safely across continents. The global cold chain logistics market alone is projected to surge from about USD 436 bilhão em 2025 para mais de USD 1.35 trilhão por 2034, and it employs more than 576,300 people worldwide. This guide uses the latest data to help you understand the main players, evaluate services and adopt best practices for your business.
Melhores jogadores: Which are the leading cold chain supply companies in logistics, packaging and equipment, and what sets them apart?
Service Quality: How do logistics providers ensure safety, compliance and efficiency in 2025?
Soluções de embalagem: Which packaging manufacturers offer sustainable, high performance products, and why does that matter to you?
Equipment Innovations: What innovations in refrigeration units, trailers and sensors should you look for when selecting suppliers?
Selection Tips: How can you evaluate and choose the right cold chain partner based on your needs, budget and sustainability goals?
Tendências & Perguntas frequentes: What are the latest trends in cold chain supply, and which questions do companies commonly ask?
Which Cold Chain Logistics Companies Lead the Market in 2025?
To move temperature sensitive goods safely, your first step is choosing a reliable logistics provider. De acordo com pesquisas, the largest cold chain logistics companies in 2025 include Americold Logistics, Logística de Linhagem, United States Cold Storage and Burris Logistics. These firms report revenues ranging from USD 1.3 bilhão para USD 3.6 bilhão, operate hundreds of temperature controlled facilities and invest heavily in automation and digital technologies. Such scale and innovation enable faster delivery, real time visibility and reduced spoilage.
Selecting a partner involves examining network reach, technology investments and sustainability commitments. Americold Logística boasts an extensive network of temperature controlled warehouses and transportation assets and has implemented automated material handling and data analytics to improve efficiency. Logística de Linhagem, com mais 400 facilities and revenue around USD 2.1 bilhão, uses AI and data driven platforms to optimise storage and transportation while pursuing aggressive global acquisitions. United States Cold Storage operates more than 40 instalações, emphasising automation and smart warehouses. Burris Logística, known for high customer service and a fleet of refrigerated trucks, uses IoT monitoring and route optimisation to minimise waste and ensure timely deliveries.
Evaluating Logistics Services: Fatores -chave
When comparing logistics providers, considere esses fatores:
| Fator de Avaliação | What to Look For | Significado prático |
| Network & Capacidade | Number of cold storage facilities, fleet size and global reach | Ensures your products can move through multiple regions without temperature excursions |
| Tecnologia & Automação | Use of AI, warehouse robotics and IoT sensors | Enables real time visibility and rapid response to temperature deviations |
| Iniciativas de sustentabilidade | Investments in energy efficient refrigeration, electrified fleets and renewable energy | Reduces emissions and aligns with sustainability goals and customer expectations |
| Conformidade & Certificações | Adherence to regulatory requirements such as FSMA 204 (para os EUA. high risk foods) and global food safety standards | Minimises legal risk and ensures product safety during transit |
| Suporte ao cliente & Flexibilidade | Availability of tracking portals, customer service teams and customised routes | Enhances your ability to adapt to changing demand and reduces delays |
Practical Tips for Choosing a Logistics Provider
Assess route coverage and capacity: Identify whether the provider operates in your regions and can handle expected volumes.
Check technology integration: Ask about real time tracking platforms, automated warehousing and contingency plans for equipment failure.
Evaluate sustainability: Determine whether the company uses energy efficient refrigeration, electrified trucks or renewable energy to reduce carbon footprint.
Request compliance documentation: Confirm certifications (por exemplo, ISO 22000, SQF) and evidence of adherence to FSMA 204, which mandates high risk food traceability by Janeiro 2026.
Review customer feedback: Look for case studies and testimonials that demonstrate responsiveness and problem resolution.
Caso do mundo real: Em 2024 a quick service restaurant saved USD 50,000 by working with a logistics provider that diverted cargo to another refrigerated truck after a reefer malfunction, evitando a deterioração. This illustrates the value of real time monitoring and proactive contingency planning.
Who Are the Leading Cold Chain Packaging Manufacturers?
Packaging acts as the armour that guards temperature sensitive products during transit. The cold chain packaging market is valued at USD 27.7 bilhão em 2025 e está projetado para atingir USD 102.1 bilhão por 2034. Insulated containers account for roughly 40 % of the market while pallet shippers represent 25 %. Although pharmaceuticals drive about 55 % of demand, the food industry represents 35 %, demonstrating broad applicability.
Leading packaging manufacturers include Sonoco ThermoSafe, Peli BioThermal, Tecnologias da cadeia fria (CCT), Sealed Air (Cryovac), va Q tec e Softbox/CSafe. Each offers unique strengths:
| Empresa | Flagship Solutions | Principais vantagens | O que isso significa para você |
| Sonoco ThermoSafe | Diverse range of insulated shippers and bulk containers; global network; engineering support | Vendas de USD 240 milhão; acquired by a private equity firm in 2025; offers customized design assistance | Access to a wide selection of validated solutions and technical expertise |
| Peli BioThermal | Crēdo Cube and Crēdo GO reusable shippers with integrated data loggers; programas de aluguel | Reduces dry ice consumption by 75 %; emphasises sustainability and industry collaborations | Enables cost savings and carbon reduction through reusability and monitoring |
| Tecnologias da cadeia fria (CCT) | Platform of 12.5 milhão remetentes reutilizáveis; Smart Solutions with AI and IoT | Acquired Tower Cold Chain in 2025; uses predictive analytics to manage shipments | Improves decision making and reduces waste via data insights |
| Sealed Air (Cryovac) | Vacuum sealed pouches and films; invests in plant based materials and aims for 100 % recyclable packaging by 2025 | Pioneered cryogenic vacuum packaging; working on plant based resins like Plantic | Preserves product quality while supporting circular economy initiatives |
| va Q tec | Painéis de isolamento a vácuo (VIPs) and phase change materials (PCMs) with custom shapes; climate neutral production | VIPs provide up to ten times better insulation; offers climate neutral manufacturing | Maximises thermal performance while lowering environmental impact |
| Softbox/CSafe | VIP and VIP+ shippers with 96–240 hour hold times; integrated data loggers; Materiais recicláveis | Focus on reusability and integrated monitoring; acquired by CSafe | Provides extended temperature protection for long haul shipments |
Selecting Packaging Solutions for Your Needs
Considere a sensibilidade do produto, shipment duration and environmental impact when choosing packaging. Matching hold time with transit time prevents unnecessary cost and reduces risk. Digital monitoring devices help track temperature in real time and maintain traceability. Prioritising reusable systems can reduce total cost of ownership and align with sustainability goals. Adicionalmente, plan reverse logistics for returns because packaging often has high value and should be recovered for reuse.
Practical Scenario: A biotech firm transporting mRNA vaccines used Peli BioThermal’s Crēdo Cube with integrated data loggers. The solution minimised dry ice usage and achieved zero temperature excursions during cross continental shipments.
What Should You Expect from Cold Chain Equipment Suppliers?
Equipment suppliers provide the hardware—refrigeration units, trailers and monitoring devices—that enable a functioning cold chain. The cold chain equipment market was valued at USD 89.5 bilhão em 2024, with projections of USD 94.3 bilhão em 2025 e USD 179.8 bilhão por 2034. The market grows because of rising demand for temperature sensitive products, electrified transport and sustainability requirements.
Key suppliers include Carrier Transicold, Thermo King (Trane Technologies), CIMC (China International Marine Containers), Daikin Industries, e Emerson. These firms collectively hold roughly 30 % of the equipment market and focus on energy efficiency, electric or hybrid units and natural refrigerants.
When evaluating equipment suppliers, consider factors similar to logistics providers—technology innovation, sustainability and service support. Look for refrigeration units with low global warming potential (PAG) refrigerantes, solar powered backup systems and remote diagnostics. Adicionalmente, ensure trailers and containers meet ISO standards for insulation and structural integrity. Modern IoT enabled sensors help track temperature, umidade e localização em tempo real, enabling predictive maintenance and compliance reporting.
Mergulho profundo: Equipment Innovations
| Tecnologia | Descrição | Benefícios para suas operações |
| Electric & Hybrid Refrigeration Units | Systems that rely on battery or hybrid power instead of diesel, reduzindo o consumo de combustível e as emissões | Lower operational costs, compliance with urban emission regulations and quieter operation |
| Natural Refrigerants | Use of CO₂, ammonia or hydrocarbons instead of synthetic gases with high GWP | Reduced environmental impact, compliance with global refrigerant phase down programmes |
| Sensores inteligentes & IoT | Wireless sensors and cloud platforms that monitor temperature, humidity and door openings in real time | Early detection of anomalies, predictive maintenance and automated compliance logs |
| Lightweight Insulation | Materiais avançados como painéis isolados a vácuo (VIPs) and phase change materials (PCMs) used in trailers and containers | Improved thermal performance, more payload capacity and lower energy consumption |
Actionable Tips for Equipment Buyers
Request performance data: Ask for evidence of energy savings and hold times under various ambient conditions.
Ensure service network coverage: Make sure the supplier has a robust maintenance network to minimise downtime.
Plan for end of life management: Choose equipment with recyclable materials and support for responsible disposal or refurbishment.
Integrate monitoring platforms: Use systems that support integration with your own tracking dashboards and enterprise resource planning (ERP) sistemas.
How to Choose the Right Cold Chain Partner for Your Business
Selecting a single supplier or combination of logistics, packaging and equipment providers depends on your product characteristics, destination markets and sustainability objectives. Here is a step by step approach to help you decide:
Define requirements: Determinar a faixa de temperatura (congelamento profundo, congelado, refrigerado), product sensitivity and shipment duration. Por exemplo, deep freeze products often require –20 °C or lower while chilled goods remain at 2–8 °C. Setting numeric ranges ensures proper equipment selection.
Assess volume and frequency: Estimate how many shipments you need per week or month and the average weight/size. This influences whether to choose dedicated transport or shared services.
Evaluate potential partners: Use the evaluation factors outlined earlier—network reach, tecnologia, sustentabilidade e conformidade.
Consider packaging compatibility: Ensure packaging solutions align with product needs and logistic provider capabilities. Reusable packaging may require return logistics.
Plan monitoring and traceability: Choose providers that offer integrated sensors and data platforms to comply with regulations (por exemplo, FSMA 204) and improve decision making.
Review costs holistically: Look beyond unit price to total cost of ownership, including energy consumption, returns, maintenance and waste reduction benefits.
Build contingency plans: Incorporate backup routes, alternate equipment and stock buffers to manage disruptions. The global cold chain market added over 26,800 funcionários no ano passado, signalling growth but also potential capacity constraints.
Ferramenta de autoavaliação
Try this quick self assessment to gauge readiness:
Faixa de temperatura: Are your products deep freeze, congelado ou refrigerado? (Select one).
Shipment Frequency: How often do you ship? Daily / Weekly / Mensal.
Metas de Sustentabilidade: Do you require reusable packaging or low emission transport? Sim / Não / Unsure.
Traceability Needs: Do you need real time monitoring with automated logs? Sim / Não.
Use your answers to prioritise the features and partners that align with your needs. Por exemplo, high frequency shipments may benefit from providers with large networks and automated sorting, whereas sustainability goals may steer you toward packaging companies like Peli BioThermal or equipment suppliers using electric refrigeration.
2025 Trends in Cold Chain Supply Companies
A indústria da cadeia fria está evoluindo rapidamente. Here are the key trends shaping 2025 e além:
Visão geral das tendências
Market Expansion: Demand for biologics, vaccines and fresh foods continues to drive market growth. The global cold chain logistics market is forecast to expand at a 13.46 % CAGR de 2025 para 2034, alcançando USD 1.35 trilhão. This growth fuels investment in capacity, technology and talent.
Inovação Tecnológica: IA, robotics and real time tracking are becoming standard. Companies like CCT are using AI and IoT in their Smart Solutions platform to predict shipment risks, while logistics providers like Lineage deploy data driven warehousing.
Sustentabilidade & Circularidade: Stakeholders are pushing for recyclable materials, energy efficient equipment and renewable energy. Sealed Air aims for 100 % recyclable or reusable packaging by 2025, and packaging companies increasingly use plant based materials and encourage reverse logistics.
Conformidade Regulatória: Regulamentações como os EUA. FSMA 204 mandate enhanced traceability for high risk foods by January 2026. Digital thermometers and automated logs are increasingly required in restaurant and manufacturing sectors.
Industry Consolidation: Mergers and acquisitions continue as large logistics players expand portfolios and technology companies integrate solutions. Sobre 230 fusões e aquisições have been recorded in the sector.
Resumo das últimas inovações
AI enabled predictive analytics: Solutions like CCT’s Smart Solutions platform use AI to forecast potential temperature excursions, permitindo intervenções proativas.
Reusability and rental programs: Peli BioThermal’s rental offerings and Softbox/CSafe’s reusable VIP systems reduce waste and cost.
Natural refrigerants and electrification: Equipment suppliers adopt low GWP refrigerants and electric or hybrid refrigeration units.
High performance insulation: Va Q tec’s vacuum insulation panels (VIPs) provide up to ten times better insulation than conventional materials.
Digital traceability for compliance: FSMA 204 compliance requires advanced digital record keeping and sensors for high risk foods.
Insights de mercado
The Asia–Pacific region is expected to see the fastest growth, with some forecasts projecting a 14.3 % Cagr na logística da cadeia de frio. Dairy and frozen desserts hold the largest revenue share at 36.10 %. Pre cooling facilities (which remove field heat after harvest) represent a sizable market segment worth over USD 204 bilhão em 2024. In equipment, electric and hybrid refrigeration units are gaining traction due to stricter emission standards. Cold chain packaging is seeing strong adoption of reusable systems; the reusable packaging market, avaliado em USD 2.5 bilhão em 2024, is expected to double by 2033.
Perguntas frequentes
Q1: What exactly does a cold chain supply company do?
A cold chain supply company provides logistics, packaging or equipment solutions that keep products within a specified temperature range during storage and transportation. These companies manage warehouses, caminhões refrigerados, insulated containers and monitoring devices to ensure safety and compliance.
Q2: How do I calculate the cost of cold chain logistics?
Costs depend on product type, faixa de temperatura, shipment distance and service level. Consider equipment leasing, energy consumption, embalagem, labour and monitoring tools. Use total cost of ownership rather than unit rates to compare providers.
Q3: Are reusable packaging systems worth it?
Yes—especially for recurring shipments. Reusable systems like Peli BioThermal’s Crēdo Cube reduce dry ice by 75 %, lowering operating costs and waste. No entanto, plan for reverse logistics and cleaning protocols.
Q4: What is FSMA 204 and how does it affect my business?
FSMA 204 is a U.S. regulation that requires enhanced traceability for high risk foods by January 2026. Businesses must maintain digital records, implement real time monitoring and ensure rapid traceback during recalls. Selecting providers with robust traceability systems helps ensure compliance.
Resumo & Recomendações
The cold chain sector in 2025 is dynamic and expanding. Takeaways -chave:
Choose providers with strong networks and technology: Leading logistics firms invest in automation, AI and IoT to provide visibility and efficiency.
Opt for sustainable packaging and equipment: Packaging companies like Sealed Air and va Q tec focus on recyclable materials and high performance insulation, while equipment suppliers move toward electric and hybrid refrigeration.
Ensure regulatory compliance and traceability: FSMA 204 and similar regulations require digital logs and temperature monitoring. Use smart sensors and platforms to stay compliant.
Plan for growth and resilience: With market expansion and ongoing mergers, choose partners with capacity and contingency plans. The sector’s workforce grows by thousands annually.
PRÓXIMOS PASSOS: Define your product requirements, evaluate logistics, packaging and equipment providers using the criteria described, and engage partners that align with your sustainability and compliance goals. Consider implementing digital monitoring and AI enabled analytics to reduce waste and improve decision making. When ready, contact an expert to tailor solutions to your operations.
Sobre Tempk
Tempk is a leader in temperature controlled logistics and packaging solutions. Nós specialise in designing integrated cold chain systems that ensure compliance with FSMA 204 and global food safety standards. Our portfolio includes advanced insulated shippers, IoT monitoring platforms and consultation services. By leveraging sustainable materials and energy efficient equipment, nós help customers reduce waste and carbon footprint while maintaining product integrity.
Pronto para otimizar sua cadeia de frio? Reach out for a personalised assessment and discover how Tempk can support your supply chain transformation.
