The cold chain is a complex process that requires adherence to the strictest standards of handling through multiple stages. Kevin Coleman, chief executive officer of CJ Logistics, explains how it's done. 

A younger generation of consumers is driving growth in the cold chain market, with increased purchases of frozen products, Coleman says. That creates the need for crafting a unified and efficient process that stretches from the retail shelf all the way back to the manufacturer. 

To keep pace with growth and demands for greater efficiency, manufacturers must work collaboratively with their cold-chain logistics partners. In addition, they need to be developing plans for additional capacity and handling facilities, the latter of which can take around 18 months to build from scratch.

Partners in the cold chain are aided by new technology that cools and regulates temperatures in warehouses and trucks. That includes specialty areas that require blast freezing. New techniques are making cooling systems safer both for the environment and warehouse workers. It’s equally important that those applications communicate easily with the warehouse management system that oversees all operations.

In the area of personal comfort and safety, recent innovations such as better protective clothing are making cold-chain facilities more attractive places to work, Coleman says.

Cold chain partners need to be conducting frequent checks of the environment within warehouses and vehicles in order to ensure product quality, he adds.