Cold Chain Investments Expand Capacity Across Mexico

Summary: Investment in Mexico’s cold chain logistics sector is accelerating as domestic operators such as Arcosa Frioguz and international companies like Emergent Cold LatAm expand temperature-controlled storage capacity in key industrial hubs including Queretaro and Guadalajara. The investments respond to rising demand from the food, agroindustrial, export and pharmaceutical sectors, while highlighting persistent infrastructure gaps in refrigerated transportation and specialized logistics networks. The expansion strengthens Mexico’s supply chain competitiveness, supports regional economic development and reflects growing demand for modern cold storage infrastructure driven by e-commerce and higher-value manufacturing. 

Mexico’s cold chain logistics sector continues to attract investment as Mexican company Arcosa Frioguz inaugurated a new cold storage facility in Queretaro that will generate 300 jobs, while Emergent Cold LatAm opened a major warehouse in Guadalajara to expand temperature-controlled storage capacity amid growing demand from the food and pharmaceutical industries.

The new Arcosa Frioguz facility, located in the municipality of Pedro Escobedo, strengthens cold chain infrastructure in Queretaro and expands the company’s capacity to store and preserve perishable products for strategic sectors of the economy. The project is expected to support the agroindustrial, livestock and export industries while creating new employment opportunities in the region.

The investment reflects continued growth in Mexico’s cold storage market as companies seek to address increasing demand for temperature-controlled logistics services. State officials said the project reinforces Queretaro’s position as a logistics and industrial hub.

During the inauguration ceremony, Marco Antonio Del Prete Tercero, Minister of Sustainable Development (SEDESU), said new investments are the result of coordination among businesses, government and society to promote economic growth in Queretaro.

“Whenever a company invests in Queretaro, we respond with work, certainty and support,” Del Prete said, thanking the company for its confidence in the state and reiterating the government’s commitment to maintaining favorable conditions for investment and productive development.

Del Prete noted that Arcosa Frioguz strengthens one of the most important segments of today’s economy: specialized logistics and the cold chain. He said the new facilities will enable the preservation and transportation of temperature-sensitive goods under high operational standards, benefiting the agroindustrial, livestock and export sectors. 

Four Decades Of Growth Drive Frioguz Expansion

The new facility forms part of a broader growth strategy among cold storage operators seeking to expand specialized infrastructure for food supply chains across Mexico.

Ana Guzmán Alatorre, Chair of Frioguz’s Board of Directors, said the company has accumulated 40 years of experience in the sector and has focused its efforts on developing solutions for the food industry. The company currently operates eight plants and employs 780 workers. Guzmán said its growth strategy remains centered on developing specialized infrastructure tailored to customer needs.

Pedro Escobedo Mayor Juan Alberto Nava Cruz said the arrival of Arcosa creates new opportunities for employment and economic development in the region. He highlighted the municipality’s conditions for business growth and recognized collaboration with the state government to strengthen local productive sectors.

Gerardo Negrete, Vice Chair, Frioguz’s Board of Directors, said the new infrastructure will contribute to economic activity in the area while strengthening the company’s quality and innovation processes. He added that the project will create new opportunities for producers and contribute to food security through greater storage and preservation capacity. 

Emergent Cold Expands Footprint In Guadalajara

As domestic demand for cold chain services grows, international operators are also increasing investments across Mexico. Emergent Cold LatAm, the largest provider of temperature-controlled food logistics solutions in Latin America, inaugurated a new cold storage warehouse in the Guadalajara region, marking the company’s entry into a strategic market and further expanding national cold chain capacity.

“Guadalajara is one of the largest and most dynamic cities in Mexico, and it holds a privileged position for connecting our customers with the ports of Manzanillo and Lazaro Cardenas. We continue to grow rapidly in the country, and our investments reflect this commitment: we aim to provide modern cold chain solutions and high-quality logistics services exactly where the market needs them most,” said Juan Pablo Benítez, Managing Director in Mexico, Emergent Cold LatAm, reported MBN. 

The facility offers capacity for 12,000 pallet positions across 81,000m³, allowing storage of up to 12,000 tons of food. The site was designed to accommodate future growth and includes sufficient land to potentially double its storage capacity.

The warehouse follows a series of recent expansions by the company. In March 2025, Emergent Cold LatAm opened its first ground-up warehouse in Monterrey after expanding operations in Villagrán, Guanajuato, and Apodaca. Since entering Mexico in September 2022 through the acquisition of a local company and purchasing a second operator months later, the company has consolidated its presence and now operates 36 warehouses nationwide. 

Demand Outpaces Available Cold Chain Capacity

The latest investments come as Mexico’s cold chain logistics sector undergoes rapid transformation driven by evolving consumer behavior and industrial growth.

The increasing popularity of online purchases of perishable goods and the expansion of the pharmaceutical sector are reshaping logistics requirements across the country. According to the National Chamber of Freight Transport (CANACAR), demand is rising for automated warehouses, innovative last-mile delivery solutions and advanced temperature monitoring technologies to preserve product quality and shelf life.

Despite growing investment, infrastructure gaps remain. By the end of 2023, Mexico had only 92,256 refrigerated trucks, representing 6.9% of the national fleet, according to the Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transport (SICT), underscoring the need for continued expansion of temperature-controlled logistics networks.