Now that the frozen food market in the UK is worth an estimated £7.5 billion, it would seem that cold store operators have some catching up to do. Or at least that was the message from Narrow Aisle Flexi’s Sales and Marketing Director John Maguire last week.

During the recession, it appears that our penchant for frozen foods increased. Consequently, so did the need for cold storage space and Maguire is concerned that the rising demand is not being met.

So news that the UK’s largest cold store logistics facility has opened must have been met with some relief in the sector. With the ability to store up to 77,000 pallets of frozen foods, Partner Logistics’ facility in Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, represents a significant investment for the sector.

Bram Hage, CEO of Partner Logistics, acknowledged the “unprecedented demand” from consumers for frozen food as the reason for the facility’s construction.

Key features required of a cold store include greater and faster pallet selectivity, additional pick face replenishment activity and customer case quantity order assembly.

While the Wisbech-based site has been recognized as a centre of excellence, the pressure is now on the cold chain sector to continue expanding and investing in order to move the industry forward.

Read ‘Cold store operators may face pressure’ and ‘UK’s largest cold store logistics facility opens’ on Supply Chain Digital.

Edited by Chris Farnell