An overview of the 28th Annual European Cold Chain Conference, hosted by the Global Cold Chain Alliance (GCCA) in Copenhagen, Denmark, March 2025
The 28th European Cold Chain Conference brought together over 200 cold chain professionals from across Europe and the world for a dynamic three-day program in Copenhagen. Held by the Global Cold Chain Alliance (GCCA), this annual event continues to be a flagship forum for fostering collaboration, sharing innovation, and addressing the industry's most pressing challenges.
This year’s conference was particularly notable for good attendance, insightful presentations, and multiple panels discussing critical issues affecting the cold chain worldwide, including labour shortages to energy costs and sustainability imperatives.
Opening Highlights
The event commenced with a welcome by Julie Hanson, GCCA’s Europe Director, alongside Ben van Leeuwen, Vice Chair of the European Council, and Tim Ludwig, Chair of the GCCA Warehouse Board. Their introductions set the tone for a forward-looking conference centered around resilience and adaptation in an evolving global market.
These leaders emphasised the importance of international collaboration in navigating supply chain disruptions, climate regulations, and technological evolution. Their remarks were followed by a panel discussion featuring some of the larger European GCCA members, who shared operational insights and strategic outlooks.
Critical Themes and Expert Contributions
This year’s agenda focused on five central themes:
European Market Outlook: Speakers such as Sean Vanderelzen (Lineage), Jonas Swarttouw (NewCold), and Mathew Moore (Americold Logistics) shared forecasts and strategic insights on shifting consumer behavior, regional investment patterns, and supply chain agility.
Energy & Sustainability: The industry’s push toward carbon reduction and energy efficiency was a dominant topic. Presenters discussed integrating renewables, heat recovery systems, and automation technologies to balance environmental stewardship with operational performance.
Innovation & Technology: Companies like Thermotraffic and Rob Haesakkers highlighted the importance of digital transformation, AI-enabled logistics, and IoT tracking solutions to streamline warehousing and transport operations.
Global Trade Dynamics: Discussions explored how geopolitical shifts, EU trade regulations, and infrastructure modernization are influencing cross-border cold chain logistics.
Labour Force Investment: Delegates explored ways to attract and retain talent in a tight labour market, including upskilling, automation, and more inclusive workplace cultures.
Interactive Engagement: The Cold Chain Café
The GCCA conduct a Cold Chain Café, this year facilitated by Ndustrial, which provided a collaborative space for attendees to engage in structured conversations around key operational challenges and best practices. This setting encouraged practical dialogue and problem-solving among executives, managers, and solution providers.
Industry Collaboration and Sponsors
The success of the conference was made possible thanks to the support from a broad array of sponsors and exhibitors. Key contributors included Boltrics, FlexiTog Global, Honeywell, Isopan, WAGNER Fire Safety, B-Built BV, EFAFLEX, Movu Robotics, and QuickFreeze, among others. Their innovations were showcased in the exhibitor space, highlighting the future of cold chain infrastructure and safety.
The 28th European Cold Chain Conference went well and it is recommended that any member of the RWTA attend in the future to consolidate contacts and ensure a broad cold chain perspective is realised through this information sharing opportunity.
As with cold chain internationally, this conference supported the value of united efforts in securing a sustainable, efficient, and resilient cold chain for years to come.
