The global food logistics network is once again navigating complicated global supply chain disruption, set in the context of significant market growth and rapid technological transformation. For the cold chain businesses delivering for today and planning for the food logistics needs of the future, it is vital to keep abreast of the structural trends, competitive shifts, and temperature-controlled logistics market changes in 2026.
Top 25 report
The Global Cold Chain Alliance (GCCA)’s Top 25 global capacity report advances understanding of the latest cold chain industry dynamics and the associated impacts on temperature-controlled space at global and regional levels. Each year, the report distinguishes the GCCA’s largest cold storage and logistics members, reflecting the total reported capacity of temperature-controlled space in GCCA membership.
The 2026 report series shows the success of the industry’s strong response to rising demand for temperature-controlled logistics services around the world. U.S.-headquartered operators continue to lead the global rankings, but businesses in other regions are also expanding their footprint: recent cold storage capacity growth has been particularly notable in Latin America.
The global Top 25
The businesses that make up the global Top 25 now operate 7.76 billion cubic feet of temperature-controlled space. GCCA analysis shows that the very rapid growth of the past five years has now slowed to a rate of 6.3%, more measured but still a robust year-on-year rise. The preceding five years saw speculative development from presumed post-COVID supply chain restructuring and aggressive merger and acquisition activity, in a multi-year interest rate environment that pressured expansion financing. More recently, higher interest rates and tightening market conditions have made operators more selective about new development.
Latin America’s Top 10
Collectively, the operations of GCCA member businesses in Latin America showed the greatest proportionate capacity increase this year. The temperature-controlled space capacity of the businesses listed as Latin America’s Top 10 increased by 56.2 million cubic feet, now operating 634.2 million cubic feet. This increase has been driven largely by merger and acquisition activity.
The region’s dynamic cold storage growth market is responding to a rapidly expanding middle class, rising demand for protein exports (especially Brazilian beef, poultry, and pork), and historically under-served cold chain infrastructure relative to economic size. The formalization of the region's cold storage sector is being accelerated by the entry of U.S.-backed operators introducing institutional capital and modern facility design.
The strong increase in space and ongoing modernization in cold chain services in Latin America is positive for food logistics in the region, creating greater resilience and flexibility for food supply chain partners. It is also playing an important role in facilitating the ongoing growth in Latin America’s international food trade.
Europe and North America
Analysis of GCCA member businesses in Europe and North America reflects more measured organic investment in these regions’ cautious capital environment.
In Europe, the cold storage market is characterized by high population density, complex cross-border regulatory frameworks, and a fragmented ownership landscape. The Netherlands has emerged as a logistics hub, hosting the overall or European HQ of six of the region’s Top 10 ranked operators.
In North America, private equity has continued to back platform roll-ups and speculative development while the Top 2 incumbents pursued selective rationalization rather than aggressive organic expansion. Mid-tier North American operators are growing at rates exceeding the top-tier incumbents, indicating active market maturation.
For food logistics in North America and Europe, the strong increase in temperature-controlled logistics space over the past decade is providing today an augmented choices of services, locations, routes and providers. At a time of great disruption in supply chains, uncertainty about energy markets, and a shifting international trade landscape, the availability of ample cold storage capacity is fundamental to the resilience of a safe, quality food supply chain.
Around the world, demand for temperature-controlled food logistics services keeps rising as populations grow, consumer preferences evolve, and complex global supply chains navigate disruptions and challenges. In response, the world's top cold chain businesses have expanded their capacity significantly over the past decade. This increase has continued over the past year but at a more measured pace. The significant investments that third-party temperature-controlled logistics operators continue to make into capacity, technology, and workforce skills help ensure they are well-positioned to meet customers’ future food logistics needs across a range of market conditions.
