Linking Producers to High-Value Markets: Emergent Cold LatAm

Q: Where do the most immediate opportunities come from for modernization within the Mexican cold chain?
A: Opportunities for cold chain development exist throughout Latin America, but Mexico occupies a unique position due to its proximity to the United States. Mexican regulations are closely aligned with the US market because it is a major exporter of agricultural products. Historically, Mexico has suffered from a lack of adequate infrastructure from the post-harvest stage to the final consumer. While export products meet high standards due to US requirements, the domestic market still faces a significant infrastructure gap. Emergent Cold LatAm focuses on investing in these emerging markets to improve product quality and reduce food waste.

The majority of food waste occurs in the initial stages of the supply chain before reaching the supermarket. This happens when products do not undergo proper pre-cooling or experience temperature fluctuations during transport. When the cold chain remains unbroken, the shelf life of the product extends significantly. In more developed countries, food waste indices are much lower because the production and handling processes are more standardized. We aim to bring that level of stability to the Mexican market by providing the infrastructure necessary to preserve the visual and nutritional properties of food.

Q: How do you perceive the Mexican market’s maturity for cold chain services?
A: The Mexican market is transforming the same way the United States did 30 years ago. In the past, major companies like Bachoco or SuKarne had to build their own cold storage because specialized providers did not exist. Today, these companies are moving away from managing their own cold infrastructure to focus on their core business. They now invite us to expand with them into new territories, such as Los Cabos. We have evolved beyond being a simple provider of cold rooms; we are now a strategic partner integrated into their supply chain.

This evolution is already reflected in our current project pipeline. Out of every 10 new projects we have in Mexico, more than half are born from direct, dedicated conversations with clients. These are no longer simple requests for storage space in Monterrey or Guadalajara. Instead, clients are asking us to enter new markets alongside them. For example, a producer may acquire a new poultry plant and choose to outsource the entire cold chain to us from day one. They recognize that managing refrigeration is not their business and that they need a partner to handle the complexities of the supply chain. We are moving beyond transactional commodity services toward strategic relationships designed to increase production and secure the future of the industry.

We often help clients recapitalize by purchasing their existing infrastructure and expanding it. This allows the client to redirect their capital toward production while we manage the logistics, transport, and systems like WMS and TMS. We support the client in managing imports and ensuring the product reaches the consumer in optimal condition. Emergent Cold LatAm provides the expertise that allows producers to stop worrying about storage and focus entirely on their primary business. The Mexican market still holds many opportunities, and we are leading the evolution of this critical path.

Q: What are the advantages of partnering with a consolidated transport provider in the food sector?
A: Seeking a logistics partner allows a client to focus entirely on their core business. In many instances, transportation represents a much greater challenge than storage. Clients frequently struggle with a fragmented network of independent drivers who lack stability and consistency. By partnering with a large-scale organization, the client ensures their products move in modern vehicles that undergo strict maintenance. We maintain a fleet where long-haul trucks are no more than five years old. Our drivers follow rigorous professional standards and traffic regulations to protect the brand image of our clients. A roadside accident or a product failure directly impacts the reputation of the producer, so they seek an integral solution that guarantees safety and quality.

Emergent Cold LatAm operates in 11 countries, which allows us to support clients across multiple borders. For example, a major seafood client manages operations with us in Chile, the United States, and Mexico to handle salmon imports. When this client seeks to enter a new market where we do not yet have a presence, we discuss building new infrastructure together. The conversation evolves from a simple transaction into a long-term regional strategy. We provide the stability and the multinational reach that allow our partners to expand with confidence.

Q: With the recent authorization of Mexican bell peppers for the Japanese market, the industry is moving from a high-volume US model to a high-value Asian model. What technical shifts are required in the cold chain to ensure a product like a bell pepper remains retail-ready after a 20+ day maritime journey to a distant market?

A: The transition from air freight to maritime transport for fresh produce is a gradual process driven by technological advancement. Atmospheric control technology in containers now allows for the long-distance transport of sensitive goods like bananas. These containers manage ethylene emissions to ensure the fruit reaches its destination at the exact moment of ripeness. While some premium markets still pay for air freight to receive products like fresh salmon for sashimi, new rapid-freezing technologies are closing the gap. These innovations preserve the organoleptic properties of the product, such as color, taste, and texture, so that it mirrors the quality of fresh fish once thawed.

Latin America produces nearly 40% of the world's food and serves as the essential global breadbasket. Each country in the region holds a dominant position in specific commodities. Brazil leads the world in animal protein and grains, while Chile dominates the salmon market, and Ecuador leads in bananas and shrimp. Even smaller nations like Guatemala possess immense potential for vegetable and fruit exports. This concentrated production makes the region a primary focus for global shipping lines and major logistics investors.

While maritime transport continues to absorb more volume, air freight will remain a necessity for ultra-premium markets. The scale of maritime operations remains staggering; for instance, bananas move more refrigerated containers globally than the meat industry. We see this firsthand in the field, where hundreds of containers are processed daily through pre-cooling stations. The evolution of the cold chain is constant, but the mission remains to move these massive volumes from Latin America to the rest of the world with increasing efficiency.

Q: How is the changing profile of the Latin American consumer redefining the traditional logistics model for food producers in the region?
A: Latin America is a premier global food production hub that continues to evolve toward a more sophisticated cold chain. We currently operate as an investment vehicle in 11 countries and expect to expand into new territories shortly. Our strategic alliance with Lineage Logistics, a major global investor in our firm with over 450 facilities worldwide, allows us to connect Latin American producers with destinations in Europe and the Middle East. However, the most significant growth is occurring within the region itself. When I walk through our warehouses in Mexico, I see a high volume of products from our own Latin American neighbors, such as salmon from Chile or poultry from Brazil. The import of Brazilian poultry into Mexico has surged because it remains more competitive than US products, which have been impacted by high inflation.

Entering new markets does not always require looking toward the Middle East; it often involves expanding into growing economies within Latin America. We are witnessing a natural evolution in consumer behavior as the socioeconomic status of the population improves. As individuals move from the lower-income bracket into the middle class, their consumption of frozen foods increases significantly. These consumers transition from purchasing fresh meat at local butcher shops to buying value-added products like seasoned fillets or frozen nuggets. This shift is a proven trend, as higher-income groups consume a much larger volume of frozen goods. This demographic evolution directly increases the demand for our specialized infrastructure and integrated logistical services.

Q: Which other Mexican products do you consider have the highest potential to leverage specialized cold chains to reach similar horizons, and how well-prepared is Mexico’s existing infrastructure for that transition?
A: The Mexican market holds a unique advantage that no other Latin American country can claim: direct proximity to the world’s largest consumer market. Mexico benefits from a growing domestic demand for frozen products and an immense potential for export. 

During my visits to clients in the Bajio region, I have observed a fundamental shift in our business conversations. In the past, clients simply asked for storage space. Today, the dialogue focuses on expansion, cross-border cross-docking, and specialized infrastructure like pre-cooling to increase export capacity for high-value products such as berries.

The growth in the berry sector is a prime example of this evolution. We recently signed a contract for our facility in Leon, Guanajuato, where we manage the entire pre-cooling process. The product arrives fresh from the field, and we immediately remove the field heat to stabilize its temperature. It is then packed for the final consumer and pre-cooled before being shipped to the United States. This level of technical integration is the new standard. Clients are no longer looking for a simple cold room; they want a partner who can integrate logistics infrastructure to preserve quality. The greatest opportunity in Mexico lies within this modernized agricultural sector.

Q: What do you consider to be the defining trend for the global cold chain and logistics sector through the remainder of 2026?
A: Reducing our carbon footprint is a critical focus for our operations as we move through 2026. We are investing heavily in solar panels and international certifications to ensure our facilities are sustainable. We have 22 facilities certified under EDGE or LEED standards. The EDGE certification is particularly important as it is backed by the World Bank and verifies significant reductions in water and energy consumption. Seven of these warehouses have already achieved zero-carbon status by sourcing all their energy from renewable outlets. Our clients increasingly prioritize these actions because our environmental impact is a direct extension of their own supply chain sustainability goals.

Sustainability is especially vital in regions with severe resource constraints. In markets like Monterrey, securing water for large-scale cold storage facilities is a major challenge. We respond by investing in specialized systems that consume only 5% of the water used by conventional refrigeration plants. We must think outside the box to build infrastructure that remains viable in areas with low energy and water availability. By proving that our installations consume less electricity and water, we provide a measurable environmental benefit that our partners value.

While sustainability is our primary impact area, we also use artificial intelligence (AI) to refine our maintenance and visibility tools. We use these technologies to improve equipment upkeep and provide clients with better insights into their inventory rotation. These systems allow for preventive and corrective actions, ensuring that the supply chain remains resilient. However, the most profound changes in our Mexican operations come from our ability to deploy high-efficiency infrastructure in resource-stressed environments. We are not just providing storage; we are building a responsible logistical framework for the future of Latin America.


Emergent Cold LatAm is the largest Latin American provider of temperature-controlled logistics and infrastructure solutions. As of 2026, it has consolidated its position as the largest cold storage and integrated logistics operator in the region, boasting a network of over 110 warehouses across 11 countries and a combined storage capacity exceeding 1.3 million pallet positions.