Delivering Reliable Cold Chain Performance Across APAC

Across Australia and New Zealand, demand for temperature-controlled infrastructure continues to rise. Population growth, increased consumption of perishable foods, the expansion of online grocery, and more complex retail and export supply chains are reshaping how food moves through the region.

For retailers, producers, and manufacturers, the priority is clear: partner with providers that can scale alongside them while maintaining consistency, visibility, and operational discipline.

At Americold, that focus is shaping how we invest and expand across APAC.

Growth driven by customer demand

Our approach to expansion starts with our customers – their growth plans, operational needs, and the realities of their supply chains.

This is what led to our recent expansions at Halwyn in Christchurch, New Zealand, and Prospect in New South Wales, Australia. Both investments were designed to support increasing volume, improve throughput, and position our customers for long-term growth.

These are targeted decisions: building capacity where it matters most and ensuring it performs at the level our customers require.

A partnership model that scales: Woolworths

Our more than 40-year relationship with Woolworths Group demonstrates how this approach translates into execution.

As Woolworths has expanded and evolved its network, Americold has grown alongside it—aligning infrastructure, operations, and planning to support increasing scale and complexity.

At Prospect, the recent expansion enables the consolidation of Woolworths’ frozen inventory for New South Wales into a single, purpose-built location. The result is faster response times, more efficient replenishment, and improved handling across the network.

Equally important is how the work gets done. Americold and Woolworths teams plan together, anticipating seasonal demand, promotions, and potential disruptions to maintain continuity and performance.

This is what it looks like to operate as an extension of a customer’s supply chain. 

Built for scale, performance, and long-term efficiency 

Both the Halwyn and Prospect expansions were developed with a clear set of priorities: scalability, operational efficiency, and consistent execution. 

• Flexible infrastructure: Optimized layouts and racking support high-volume, fast-moving environments 

• Enhanced visibility: Customer portals and AI-enabled analytics provide clearer insight into inventory and throughput 

• Disciplined operations: Standardized processes and experienced teams drive reliable performance across sites 

These capabilities allow customers to adapt as conditions change whether that’s shifting demand patterns, seasonal peaks, or evolving distribution requirements. 

Design decisions also reflect a focus on long-term efficiency. Features such as energy optimization, on-site solar generation, and water management systems help reduce operating costs while supporting broader sustainability expectations across the supply chain. 

Strategic capacity in key markets 

Each expansion strengthens Americold’s ability to serve critical supply chain nodes in the region. 

• Halwyn (Christchurch) triples the facility’s current capacity and supports New Zealand’s export-driven dairy, meat, and seafood sectors with modern, scalable infrastructure. 

• Prospect (New South Wales) adds an additional 50% capacity and enhances distribution across Greater Sydney, with direct access to major freight corridors including the M4, M5, and M7. 

Together, these sites provide the capacity and connectivity required to support both domestic distribution and international trade flows. 

Positioned for what’s next 

Supply chains across APAC continue to evolve, shaped by growth, consolidation, and rising performance expectations. 

In this environment, customers are taking a closer look at their long-term partners, prioritizing providers that can deliver more than capacity alone. Execution, integration, and the ability to scale with confidence are becoming more important. 

Americold’s continued investment in Australia and New Zealand reflects that shift. We are building a network that is more connected, more capable, and aligned to the needs of the customers we serve. 

Learn how Americold can support your supply chain as you scale:
https://www.americold.com/cold-supply-chain/