Choosing your next supplier of temperature-sensitive warehousing services is a technical and strategic decision, one that is very different from choosing an ambient warehouse provider. When considering the additional complexity of food regulations, environmental and safety concerns, engineering requirements and the different cost structures (a temperature-controlled facility is 4-5 times more capital intensive and energy demanding than an ambient one)—it’s easy to see why. Here’s a basic checklist of questions to be asking when choosing a refrigerated and frozen warehouse provider.
The building
The first major area for consideration should be the building itself. The level of capital that is invested annually in maintaining and improving the physical building and whether the racking configuration allows for optimized handling of particular product are critical factors. But, it doesn’t stop there; electricity is one of the greatest costs of this type of building, so look at energy efficiency, hedges and the refrigeration system (e.g., efficient and environmentally friendly ammonia or other refrigerants such as Freon) to better understand the building and where the company’s money is going.