Kerry Logistics expands food cold chain business in China
Kerry Logistics Network Limited recently expanded its food-related cold chain capability in Mainland China through the establishment of Kerry Cold Chain Solution.
The new company’s goal is to tap into the fast-growing domestic market of niche food products, Kerry Logistics said.
Kerry Cold Chain is a joint venture formed with Shanghai Zhizhen Logistics in which Kerry Logistics holds the majority interest. It provides comprehensive integrated cold chain logistics solutions from upstream to downstream. Using self-owned cold chain facilities and partnering with local expertise, Kerry Cold Chain will handle a wide range of food products, from raw ingredients to dairy product additives, the company said.
“The market for food-related cold chain logistics in Mainland China is immense with enormous growth potential,” said Edwardo Erni, Kerry Logistics’ managing director for China and North Asia. “There is also ample room for technological growth to reach international standards. Intending to fill a gap in the market, we welcome the collaboration with Zhizhen Logistics, which marks an important strategic step for Kerry Logistics to extend its footprint in the domestic cold chain logistics market, enhancing our service offerings and competitiveness.”
Kerry Cold Chain currently operates more than 1 million square feet of ambient and cold chain facilities in China, including a temperature-controlled facility with more than 50,000 square feet in Shanghai featuring automated storage and retrieval systems.
Founded in 2008, Zhizhen Logistics serves the logistics needs of domestic and international customers from locations across China, including Beijing, Tianjin, Wuhan, Guangzhou and Shenzhen. It commands a 90% market share for imported food essences in the Shanghai region.
Kerry Logistics offers food and beverage solutions with complete cold chain integrity to food chain stores and restaurants in Hong Kong, as well as hypermarkets and frozen food retailers in Taiwan, the company said.
The Group also runs cold chain facilities of 70,000 square feet in Oceania, serving supermarket chains, convenience stores, independent retailers and food importers.
