What is an integrated cold chain?
The global food cold chain is a connected system of temperature-controlled transportation, storage, and distribution. It ensures that perishable foods and temperature-sensitive goods are kept at their ideal temperature and in the right environment – which varies depending on the specific product – to preserve their quality, nutritional value, and safety from origin to consumer.
This intricate “farm to fork” system involves numerous stationary and mobile components and demands responsibility from various stakeholders, including farmers, processors, manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and consumers. Beyond temperature, other environmental factors like air humidity and composition must also be managed throughout the cold chain to maximize the usable or saleable lifespan of the goods.
The cold chain also needs to take into account packaging, material handling equipment, and other logistical systems. To maximize the time goods can be stored and sold, the cold chain operates under time constraints and therefore benefits significantly from digitalizing its operations and monitoring processes.
- Packing and cooling fresh food products
- Food processing including freezing of certain processed foods
- Cold storage in short or long-term warehousing of chilled or frozen foods
- Distribution, cold transport and temporary warehousing under temperature controlled conditions
- Retail refrigerated or freezer storage and displays at wholesale, retail and foodservice operations
