According to data compiled by Oxford Economics for the Cold Chain Federation, the UK cold chain sector contributes £14 billion in Gross Value Added (GVA) to the UK economy. The sector supports roughly 184,000 jobs across storage and distribution networks. Approximately 49% of all food and drink produced in the UK (valued at £50 billion) requires chilling or freezing.
This article was first published in the November 15th 2026 issue of Warehouse & Logistics News, subscribe to the magazine by clicking here.
The Cold Chain Hub, to be held by TCS&D at NEC, Birmingham – Hall 7 on 10th & 11th March 2027, is an established event for the temperature-controlled storage and distribution industry and is entirely focused on the movement of frozen and chilled foods and pharmaceuticals. Unlike any other event, the Cold Chain Hub is designed with innovation and technology at its core and will be promoting sustainability solutions for the cold chain sector. The Cold Chain Hub will usually attract between 1500-2000 visitors, from across the UK and mainland Europe, who are buyers and/or specifiers in the frozen and chilled foods and pharmaceutical sectors and who are actively seeking new innovations and technology solutions in the cold chain.
The Klimate K2 Freezer Door from BID Group operates at speeds of up to 1.5 metres per second, meaning the door can fully open and close in a matter of seconds, keeping internal temperatures stable while maintaining a steady flow of people, products, and vehicles. Compared to slower alternatives, high speed doors like the K2 can reduce cold air loss by up to 80%, especially in high-frequency applications. The curtain uses a twin-layer construction with a 50mm air gap between the layers, acting as a thermal buffer to reduce heat transfer, helping keep the freezer or chill environment sealed tight, even during constant use.
Food processing operations must keep products moving efficiently while maintaining strict quality standards, managing costs, reducing waste, and protecting employees in intensive environments. From raw ingredient intake to production, cold storage, and final distribution, lift trucks and warehouse equipment play a critical role at almost every stage. A delay in moving ingredients to production lines, inefficiencies in cold stores, or product damage during handling can have consequences far beyond warehouse efficiency, according to Yale.
Thermoscreens, the UK air curtain manufacturer and part of Carver Group, has launched the CS Tower, a new air curtain designed specifically for large cold store doorways in the cold chain logistics sector. Unlike conventional air curtains mounted above a door, the CS Tower stands beside the opening. The vertical format lets the unit run at a lower fan speed, and means it can be installed and maintained while forklifts and pallet trucks keep moving through the doorway.
With nearly half of all food and drink produced in the UK needing chilling or freezing, the cold chain sector is set to be a major contributor to the economy for years to come.
George Simpson
Features Editor
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