Global Cold Chain Alliance Convention 2025 Preview

In early 2026, the legacy International Association of Refrigerated Warehouses (IARW) and the International Refrigerated Transportation Association (IRTA) formally merged under the GCCA banner, creating one cohesive alliance focused squarely on delivering value to every member across the global cold chain and allowing GCCA to sharpen its mandate and deepen its impact.
The Global Cold Chain Alliance (GCCA) will host this year’s premier event for the temperature-controlled logistics industry, GCCA Convention 2025, in San Antonio, Texas from September 15-17.
GCCA Convention 2025 will offer attendees thought-provoking keynote sessions delivered by global business leaders; a range of focus sessions exploring today’s primary temperature-controlled logistics challenges and opportunities; the dynamic Cold Chain Café roundtable; a future-facing Innovation Showcase; and multiple networking receptions and activities.
“GCCA Convention 2025 will bring together leaders in temperature-controlled logistics from around the world. It is an important event in our industry, providing unmatched opportunities to share knowledge and experiences, to collaborate on solutions to common challenges, and to build important relationships,” said GCCA President & CEO, Sara Stickler. “Gathering together in this way is incredibly valuable as the cold chain’s role in sustainable food security, healthcare and the global economy, continues to grow. I am delighted to share this preview of our convention’s program and I look forward to welcoming the global cold chain to San Antonio in September.”
Keynote presentations at GCCA Convention 2025 are:
- Return of the Economist with Anirban Basu, Chairman & CEO of Sage Policy Group: the world-renowned economic forecasting expert will share his insights into global, national, and regional economic performance, focusing on the financial, labor, real estate, and construction markets.
- Who Hacks, Who Wins - Managing Cyber Security with Matthew Devost, CEO of OODA LLC: the technologist, entrepreneur and expert hacker will reveal the latest tactics cyber-criminals are using and advise on effective cyber-defense countermeasures.
- Confronting the Reality of Change with Geoff Colvin, Fortune Senior Editor-At-Large: the distinguished editor will examine how logistics operators can embrace a world of continuous disruption and build a powerful competitive advantage.
- Global Policies, Regional Strategies: this session will include expert panelists offering a variety of perspectives on policy, regulation, legislation, and other advocacy efforts impacting the cold chain in regions around the world.
Additionally, attendees will hear from Stickler on the state of the association.
GCCA Convention 2025 will also feature a variety of cold chain-specific Focus Sessions, offering opportunities to learn about specific challenges, opportunities, and solutions in temperature-controlled logistics operations. These Focus Sessions will provide targeted learning, the latest insights from industry leaders, and actionable strategies on subjects including:
- The impact of the economic landscape on food consumption and production trends.
- Extending warehouse life: automation, technology, and capital upgrades.
- AI: exploring opportunities, potential dangers and efficiencies.
- Securing the warehouse: cybersecurity breach protocols and best practice.
- Cold chain facility construction insights.
- Advancing sustainability in cold chain operations: metrics that matter.
- Supply chain evolutions: electrification, carbon credits, and clean energy incentives.
- Cold chain trade: connecting U.S. exporters to global markets.
- Cold chain collaboration in Latin America.
- The insurance market: trends, claims & lessons learned.
About the GCCA
The Global Cold Chain Alliance (GCCA) represents all major industries engaged in temperature-controlled warehousing, logistics and transportation. GCCA unites all partners to be innovative leaders in the movement of perishable products globally.
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