This week the UK cold chain is joining together virtually to examine how the industry can keep a Net Zero Cold Chain ambition at its heart as it adapts to rapid changes in food retailing.
How consumers buy food is changing. Dramatic growth in demand for home deliveries spurred by lockdown, the introduction of outsourcing grocery deliveries, and retailers’ own low carbon commitments are all driving change in the storage and distribution of chilled and frozen food as well as in the supermarkets and the other food retailers that rely on the cold chain’s services.
As part of the Cold Chain Federation’s four-week Cold Chain Live! Towards a Net Zero Cold Chain events series, UK cold chain businesses are exploring the uncertainties the industry faces and how it can adapt to change as part of a pathway to Net Zero. The Cold Chain Live! events series marks the start of the Federation’s Net Zero project, a long term commitment to guide the Federation’s members through the challenges posed by the UK Government’s pledge to achieve a Net Zero economy by 2050.
Cold Chain Federation Policy Director Tom Southall said: “Through new approaches such as innovation in last mile deliveries, in-store micro-fulfilment centres for deliveries, and greater use of automation technologies, the cold chain is adapting to the changes in how UK consumers want to buy food. This week is all about bringing cold chain businesses together to explore how rethinking the food supply chain can go hand in hand with the strategies and actions needed to achieve the industry’s ambitions for a Net Zero Cold Chain.”
This week’s Cold Chain Live! theme of ‘Adapting to Change’ will be explored through:
- Monday 5th October: a series of thought leadership papers and expert blogs published on the Cold Chain Federation website www.coldchainfederation.org.uk
- Wednesday 7th October: an interview-style discussion between XPO Logistics Managing Director Gavin Williams, and Cold Chain Federation Chief Executive Shane Brennan on the Cold Chain Federation’s YouTube channel
- Friday 9th October: a virtual workshop featuring Professor Jonathan Reynolds (Professor of Retail Marketing at the University of Oxford), Kirsten Tisdale (Principal, Aricia Logistics Consulting) and Gavin Parnell (Director of The Supply Chain Consulting Group). Sign up for the workshop at www.coldchainfederation.org.uk/events
Cold Chain Federation Chief Executive Shane Brennan said: “There are lots of uncertainties related to the immediate future for the UK cold chain related to Covid and Brexit. But with no shadow of a doubt the greatest test our industry faces over the coming decade and beyond is in accelerating our progress towards Net Zero. The Cold Chain Federation will be guiding our members through this uncertainty as well as ensuring successive Governments and wider society recognise the cold chain as a force for climate good.”
- Find out more about the virtual Cold Chain Live! Towards Net Zero events and sign up to attend the free virtual workshops at www.coldchainfederation.org.uk/events
- The Cold Chain Federation’s report Shaping the Future of the Cold Chain: The Road to Net Zero can be downloaded free at https://www.coldchainfederation.org.uk/road-to-net-zero/
- To discuss collaborative opportunities on the path to Net Zero with the Cold Chain Federation, email info@coldchainfed.org.uk
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