NewCold expands Melbourne operations with major capacity increase

Melbourne, Australia– NewCold, a global leader in advanced food logistics, today officially opened its latest warehouse expansion in Truganina, Victoria, strengthening its position as one of Australia’s largest and most advanced cold chain logistics hubs.

The AUD 200 million expansion adds 80,000 pallet positions to NewCold’s existing Melbourne operations, increasing the capacity of the facility to 180,000 pallet positions. Together, NewCold’s two Truganina facilities now provide a combined capacity of 405,000 pallet positions across frozen, chilled, and ambient storage.

The opening marks another milestone in NewCold’s continued investment in Australia since entering the market in 2017. Founder and CEO Bram Hage joined employees, customers, partners, and government representatives to celebrate the occasion.

Standing 40 metres high and maintained at -23°C, the new 10,453-square-metre automated high-bay freezer is among the world’s largest facilities of its kind. The warehouse supports leading food manufacturers, including McCain, Peters Ice Cream, and Patties Foods, helping ensure reliable and efficient delivery of frozen food products to Australian consumers.

“As consumer demand for frozen and convenience foods continues to grow, our customers require highly efficient, scalable, and sustainable supply chain solutions,” said Bram Hage, Founder and CEO of NewCold.

“When we entered Australia in 2017, we saw an opportunity to introduce a new standard in cold chain logistics through automation, technology, and operational excellence. Together with our customers, we have built a platform that has continued to grow and has since become a benchmark for our global network.”

“Today, our Melbourne campus exceeds 400,000 pallet positions, reflecting both the strength of Australia’s food industry and our confidence in the long-term growth of this market.”

Australia played a pivotal role in NewCold’s global development and was the starting point of the company’s relationship with McCain, now NewCold’s largest customer worldwide.

Ross Fallon, Regional Vice President Supply Chain APACSA at McCain Foods, said the additional capacity will help support continued growth in demand for frozen food products.

“Frozen food continues to play an increasingly important role in meeting consumer needs. The additional capacity and technology provided by NewCold allow us to scale efficiently while maintaining the high standards of quality, reliability, and service our customers expect,” said Fallon.

NewCold’s facilities are powered by proprietary warehouse management and automation technologies designed to maximize efficiency, food safety, and inventory accuracy. Every pallet entering the facility is automatically inspected, tracked, and stored within an integrated system of stacker cranes, conveyors, and shuttles, reducing manual handling and optimizing product flow throughout the supply chain.

“Automation is not only about productivity. It also enhances product integrity, reduces handling risks, and improves overall operational performance,” said Hage.

“By creating an intelligent environment where products move efficiently through the warehouse with minimal intervention, we can deliver greater reliability and value for our customers.”

The facility has also been designed with energy efficiency in mind. By maximizing vertical storage, NewCold can significantly reduce the refrigerated footprint required compared with conventional cold storage facilities, helping lower energy consumption while increasing storage density.

“Cold storage is inherently energy intensive,” added Hage. “Our high-bay design allows us to store more product within a smaller refrigerated volume, reducing energy consumption while maintaining world-class operational performance.”

Peters Ice Cream, one of NewCold’s long-standing customers in Australia, welcomed the additional capacity.

“For a business supplying frozen products across Australia, maintaining product quality and ensuring dependable distribution are essential,” said Emma-Jane Collins, CEO of Peters Ice Cream. This expansion strengthens the capacity and resilience of the supply chain and supports future growth opportunities.”

NewCold currently commissions between five and seven new facilities globally each year as it continues to expand its international network. The company remains committed to its ambition of achieving carbon neutrality by 2040.

About NewCold

NewCold is a global leader in advanced food logistics and one of the world’s largest temperature-controlled warehouse operators. The company operates 27 highly automated and energy-efficient facilities across three continents, with a combined capacity of more than two million pallet positions. Following the acquisition of Karras Cold Logistics in 2023, NewCold offers integrated warehousing and transportation solutions across Australia. Powered by proprietary technology and supported by more than 3,000 people from over 40 nationalities, NewCold provides end-to-end supply chain solutions for many of the world’s leading food companies.

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