NewCold announces Wakefield expansion to strengthen UK supply chain capacity

Wakefield, UK. December 2025. NewCold, a global leader in advanced automated cold storage, announced a major expansion of its flagship UK facility in Wakefield. The new development, known as Wakefield III, marks a significant strategic investment designed to boost national frozen storage capacity, support growing customer needs, and reinforce the resilience of the UK food supply chain. The completion of Wakefield III will bring NewCold’s UK capacity to 344,000 pallet positions, further supported by the Corby facility.

Since its launch in 2015, NewCold Wakefield has become the largest deep-frozen storage and distribution centre in the United Kingdom, operating at ultra-low temperatures of –23°C with best-in-class energy efficiency. With 142,800 pallet positions, 16 automated stacker cranes, and 28 loading docks, the facility has been central to serving leading food manufacturers and retailers across the country.

An expansion built for future demand

The Wakefield III project will add a new automated frozen high bay warehouse delivering 19,380 additional pallet locations, alongside development of the remaining three acres of the trailer parking yard. The extension will connect seamlessly with existing Phase 1 operations via new pallet conveyor systems linking the low bay and high bay warehouses.

To maximise efficiency, Wakefield III will:

• Integrate two additional automated stacker cranes
• Utilize the existing dispatch docks for streamlined outbound flows
• Include new plantrooms for O₂-reduction systems and expanded refrigeration capacity
• Feature upgrades to existing automatic truck loading and unloading systems for improved thermal performance

This investment will enable NewCold to absorb increasing volume from key customers and particularly “overflow” pallet demand from customers while strengthening service continuity in a market where capacity is increasingly constrained.

A new benchmark for efficiency and resilience

Wakefield’s fully automate and rapid unloading technology already positions it as one of the world’s most advanced cold storage facilities. The addition of Wakefield III builds on this advantage, reinforcing NewCold’s ability to deliver speed, safety, and low energy consumption at scale.

NewCold UK Managing Director, Richard Russell emphasised the strategic importance of the expansion:

“Wakefield III is more than a capacity increase, it’s a long-term investment in the resilience of the UK cold chain. As our customers grow, we must ensure they have uninterrupted access to efficient, secure, and sustainable storage. This extension allows us to future-proof the site, integrate even more advanced automation, and continue delivering the reliability NewCold is known for. We’re incredibly proud to bring this next phase of development to life.”

Strengthening UK supply chains

With proximity to major motorways allowing 90% of delivery points to be reached within a single driver’s shift, Wakefield plays a critical role in reducing food kms and supporting nationwide distribution.

NewCold’s ongoing investment reinforces its commitment to creating a more resilient, energy-efficient and technologically advanced logistics network for the UK and beyond.

About NewCold:

NewCold, the world’s third-largest refrigerated food logistics provider, offers advanced temperature-controlled supply chain solutions. With 26 state-of-the-art, highly automated, and energy-efficient warehouses across three continents, NewCold offers a combined capacity of more than 2 million pallet positions. With a growing transport fleet, NewCold provides end-to-end supply chain solutions to leading food companies powered by proprietary technology and backed by a team of 3,000 people from over 40 cultures.

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