Cold storage major expands storage capacity

Commercial Cold Holdings (CCH), one of Africa's largest cold storage and logistics providers, has announced the acquisition of iDube Cold Storage in KwaZulu-Natal for an undisclosed amount. This marks CCH’s third major acquisition following its purchase of CCS Logistics and Sequence Logistics in 2023.CCH was established in 2023 with backing from African Infrastructure Investment Managers (AIIM). The company aims to bolster food security across sub-Saharan Africa through the development of temperature-controlled logistics infrastructure. The acquisition of iDube Cold Storage adds 9 000 pallets of refrigerated capacity to CCH’s network, increasing its total capacity in KZN to 25 000 pallet positions."iDube will significantly enhance our capabilities in the region and complements our well-established Keystone Park facility," said Francois Roux, chief commercial officer at CCH, highlighting that the strategic value of the acquisition would allow the company to expand its offerings in KZN and nationally, meeting growing demand from both new and existing customers.According to Roux, CCH now boasts a footprint of 153 000 pallet positions across 11 facilities in South Africa and Namibia.Paul Gibbons, CEO of CCH, emphasised the strategic importance of the iDube location, particularly its proximity to the port, which facilitates imports for customers. "We plan to invest in the iDube people, systems, infrastructure and capabilities to enhance service delivery, while also focusing on reducing our carbon footprint through increased use of renewable energy," he said.AIIM views temperature-controlled logistics infrastructure as crucial for improving food security in sub-Saharan Africa, enabling domestic producers to meet global trade standards, and creating higher-value jobs through more formal food retail and wholesale models.