DHL Supply Chain signs MOU with RLCold to expand North American food and beverage cold-chain infrastructure
Key takeaways
- DHL Supply Chain and RLCold plan over 5 million sq. ft. of new cold-storage space.
- Aging cold-storage infrastructure is pushing fleets and shippers toward automation-ready facilities that improve throughput, accuracy, and food safety compliance.
- Multi-tenant, multi-temperature warehouses give food and beverage shippers flexibility to scale seasonally as e-commerce grocery volumes grow.
DHL Supply Chain recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with RLCold to accelerate the development of advanced food and beverage cold-storage facilities. DHL, which provides third-party contract logistics services, will combine its operational expertise and customer insights with RLCold’s design, project management, and construction capabilities. The partners plan to develop more than 5 million sq. ft. of advanced temperature-controlled facilities across North America and will jointly pursue multi-temperature distribution centers.
The partnership will address shifts in demographics and rising online grocery demand by delivering multi-node cold storage networks. DHL’s IT platforms and operational solutions will provide end-to-end visibility, support food safety programs, and help customers manage seasonal and channel-based scaling needs. Initial sites are expected to move through design and pre-development in 2026, with phased deliveries based on customer commitments and regional demand.
“In top U.S. markets, the average age of cold-storage warehouses is about 31 years, making the need for modern, automation-ready facilities in the right locations a priority for food and beverage brands,” said Dennis Lutwen, president, Consumer, DHL Supply Chain North America. “This effort is not simply about expanding capacity. It will close the critical gaps in today’s cold-chain infrastructure and deliver smarter, technology-enabled facilities online where they’re needed most.”
