The U.S. cold storage sector is entering a new phase, as operators balance softer inventories and cautious consumer spending with rapid advances in automation, sustainability and facility design. That evolution is reshaping how temperature-controlled facilities are built — and what they are expected to do.

In the final episode of the Cold Storage Deep Dive podcast series, Jennifer Jewers Bowlin and Craig Handy of Henderson Engineers discussed how flexibility and future-proofing are becoming central to cold storage development.

Teton Waters Ranch is expanding its footprint in the frozen aisle with a new line of raw burger patties that prioritize sourcing transparency, animal welfare and simplified ingredients. The product recently earned second place in Refrigerated & Frozen Foods’ annual Best New Retail Products contest.

Rob Chambers, Americold CEO, on optimizing a global food network, deeper customer partnerships and more.

My/Mochi is proving that global inspiration, social media trends and cross-functional execution can come together quickly—and successfully—in the frozen novelty aisle. The brand’s Dubai Chocolate Style Mochi ice cream was voted the first-place winner in Refrigerated & Frozen Foods’ 2026 Best New Retail Products contest. Brigette Wolf, chief marketing officer for My/Mochi joins From the Cold Corner.

After a devastating 2023 fire, the family business returns to full production with a redesigned facility focused on flow, flexibility and long-term growth. Lindsay Skilling, Gifford’s Ice Cream CEO, and JC Gifford, COO of Gifford’s Ice Cream, join From the Cold Corner to share more.

Carmen Dodaro, retired CEO and board member, and Lisa Pinion, chief human resources officer, both with FCL Builders, talk culture in cold chain operations.

Sponsored by: FCL Builders

Warehouse automation provider OPEX Corporation recently announced a technology partnership with Peltier to offer a first-of-its-kind, multi-temperature zone, multi-deep cold storage solution for automated fulfillment systems. Designed to maximize operational savings via labor, space and energy, the system allows grocery and ecommerce to enhance cold chain operations without freezer infrastructure. To learn more about how this technology is disrupting temperature-controlled logistics and its potential future applications, Monty McVaugh, who leads product management for the warehouse automation business line at OPEX and Hanson Li, co-founder and CEO of Peltier, joins From the Cold Corner.