×
An aerial view of a large Lineage cold storage warehouse facility with parked trailers and a clear blue sky.
COLD CHAIN 101

Meet the cold chain

LET'S TALK
COLD CHAIN 101

Meet the cold chain

LET'S TALK

What it takes to keep food fresh from farm to fork

We rarely think about where our food comes from, but there’s an entire industry dedicated to storing and moving your favorite commodities, from strawberries to ice cream, and keeping them cool at every stop in their journey.

Interior of a Lineage warehouse
Strengthening the food chain with connected warehousing
To feed the world, you need a partner who understands the importance of having a stronger, more connected cold storage warehousing network. Discover how Lineage sets the standard for temperature-controlled storage warehousing.
WATCH NOW

Welcome to the Cold Chain

Explore each stage of the cold chain by clicking the icons below to learn more.

Farmers

Food from farmers around the world first enters the cold chain by road, rail or sea.

Food Producers

Food from producers around the world first enters the cold chain by road, rail or sea.

Importers

Food from importers around the world first enters the cold chain by road, rail or sea.

Producer-Attached Facility

Depending on the commodity, food may be further processed at a Lineage facility before going into cold storage.

Food Processing / Manufacturing Facilities

Depending on the commodity, food may be further processed at a facility before going into cold storage.

Distribution & Fulfillment Centers

As customer orders are made, products are sent to distribution and fulfillment centers where they're parsed out into orders and placed on pallets for delivery. Through multi-vendor consolidation, even the most complex orders are possible.

Food Service Distribution Center

Lineage distribution centers act as key hubs, connecting food from warehouses to restaurants through a variety of transportation services.

Fulfillment Center

Lineage fulfillment centers act as key hubs, connecting food from warehouses to retailers and consumers through a variety of transportation services.

Retail Distribution Center

Lineage retail distribution centers act as key hubs, connecting food from warehouses to retailers through a variety of transportation services.

Retailers

Retailers receive their orders. From there, food is placed on shelves for the final consumer.

Restaurants

Restaurants receive their orders. From there, food is plated for the final consumer.

Consumers

Thanks to a more connected cold chain, people can enjoy popular commodities and delicacies from across the globe.

Explore PDF
NEWS & STORIES

Learn more about the cold chain essentials

Packed fresh yellow bell peppers on a conveyor belt in a cold chain food processing facility, ready for temperature-controlled logistics.
Navigating the Cold Chain's First Mile in a Race Against Time
The cold chain, also known as temperature-controlled logistics, is the largely invisible system responsible for connecting people from all around the world to everything from lifesaving vaccines to fresh fruits and vegetables.
READ MORE
blue berries
Lineage Announces Lineage Fresh, Expands Fresh Produce Offering in Europe
As part of its presence at Fruit Logistica in Berlin, Lineage announces its new Fresh solution, building on the acquisition of Kloosterboer Group's long-standing fresh operation.
READ MORE
Lineage Strengthens Industry-Leading Temperature-Controlled Facility Network in Europe
Twelve transactions include twenty locations spanning over 2.5 million square feet and 90 million cubic feet of capacity across five European countries, including The Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, Poland and Norway.
READ MORE
DRIVEN BY OUR PURPOSE

One team at every link in the cold chain

The Lineage Hardship Fund: Supporting Our Team with Respect and Empathy
Lineage’s commitment to its team members took a significant step forward with the creation of the Lineage Hardship Fund.
READ MORE
man in safety gear
Safety is a Conversation
Safety is more than just a priority at Lineage—it's a dynamic conversation. In this Q&A session, we sit down with Dominic DiCarlo, VP of Global Safety & Compliance, and Dr. Stephen Neel, VP of Global Food Optimization.
READ MORE
Lineage Truck
Managing complexity for maximum value
Discover innovative strategies for efficient, cost-effective temperature-controlled food transport in our transportation whitepaper.
READ WHITEPAPER
Interior photo of automated Lineage cold storage facility.
INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY
Innovating the cold chain
We're using data science and patented technology to create a faster, smarter and more reliable cold chain.
LEARN MORE
Food Supply Chain Solutions

A worldwide leader in cold chain logistics

Exterior of warehouse at sunset
Global Warehousing

Our network of sophisticated, strategically located cold storage facilities offers comprehensive and innovative solutions for protecting your temperature-controlled products.

EXPLORE
Man in high-vis jacket walking in front of a Lineage truck
Global Integrated Solutions

Our end-to-end transportation services help streamline your business and move your products from point of origin all the way to the last mile.

EXPLORE
View of shipping port with Lineage cold storage facilities and fleet of temperature-controlled trucks.
CONTACT US
Let's feed the world together
We're here to be your trusted, strategic partner. For inquiries on our integrated solutions and cold storage services, use the form to connect with our team.
LET'S TALK