A major Southeast port collaborated with Cold Summit to enhance its cold chain infrastructure and meet growing trade demands. Through strategic planning, capital raising, facility development, and ongoing tenant recruitment, Cold Summit delivered a scalable, rail-served cold storage solution—strengthening the port’s logistics efficiency and solidifying its role in the global perishable goods market.
A major Southeast port sought to strengthen its position as a regional cold chain hub to accommodate rising import and export volumes. The port needed a strategic partner to assess its existing infrastructure and develop a capital improvement plan aimed at increasing cold storage capacity, enhancing intermodal logistics, and attracting new tenants focused on perishable and frozen goods.
The port faced several significant obstacles in expanding its cold storage footprint. Its existing facilities lacked the capacity and flexibility to support the growing volume of temperature-sensitive cargo. The port required a speculative facility capable of supporting multi-tenant, flexible-temperature environments to meet market demand. Additionally, the integration of rail-served infrastructure was critical to improve intermodal efficiency and attract high-volume users. A major hurdle was the need to secure capital and investment to fund a large-scale expansion—an effort that required a sound business case and investor-ready development strategy.
Cold Summit began by conducting a comprehensive assessment of the port’s existing infrastructure and market potential. This included an in-depth review of trade volumes, perishable commodity flows, and regional cold storage capacity. The analysis identified gaps in the market and outlined how new cold storage infrastructure would improve port throughput and enhance its competitive positioning relative to other regional gateways. Based on these insights, Cold Summit developed a detailed capital improvement roadmap, featuring high-impact, scalable cold storage investments tailored to the port’s long-term growth objectives.
Cold Summit successfully negotiated a long-term lease agreement for port-owned land, enabling development of a 293,000-square-foot speculative cold storage facility designed for multi-tenant use. Additionally, Cold Summit secured an option to develop a second, 160,000-square-foot rail-served facility on an adjacent parcel—offering future expansion potential and improved intermodal access.
To make the project financially viable, Cold Summit led the effort to raise capital and structure the financing. This included detailed project underwriting, investment modeling, and the development of a compelling business case to attract stakeholders. The team delivered cost estimates and financial projections, resulting in a comprehensive funding strategy that ensured smooth execution and long-term investor confidence.
Cold Summit oversaw all aspects of facility design and construction, with a focus on performance and adaptability. The facility was designed with flexible temperature zones to support both frozen and refrigerated goods, and add-on services like blast freezing to meet the needs of international exporters. The project incorporates energy-efficient systems, supported by Cold Summit’s proprietary Building Management System (BMS), and is fully integrated with on-site rail infrastructure to enable efficient intermodal operations. The first facility was completed in September 2024.
Cold Summit continues to work closely with the port’s commercial team to identify and engage targeted tenant prospects, including importers, exporters, and 3PLs operating in the perishable goods space. Through strategic outreach and proactive marketing, the partnership aims to ensure high occupancy and long-term tenant success, maximizing both economic impact and facility utilization.
Secured a long-term land lease for cold storage development on port-owned land.
Designed and developed a 293,000-square-foot speculative cold storage facility.
Negotiated an option for a 160,000-square-foot rail-served expansion, supporting long-term growth.
Raised capital, structured financing, and managed project execution from concept through construction.
Established a strategic partnership with the port focused on long-term leasing and tenant engagement.
Cold Summit’s integrated approach to cold chain strategy, development, and financing enabled this Southeast port to transform its cold storage infrastructure and position itself as a leading hub for perishable goods. By aligning long-term logistics goals with innovative facility design and financial execution, Cold Summit is helping the port capture new market share, attract global trade, and build a foundation for future growth.
Whether you’re exploring financing options, need guidance on design and development, or want expert construction management, we’re just a call or message away. Contact us today, and let’s discuss how we can turn your vision into a state-of-the-art cold storage solution that meets your unique needs.
