Hello, and welcome to the coolest community in freight! Here you’ll find the latest information on warehouse news, tech developments and all things reefer madness-related. I’m your controller of the thermostat, Mary O’Connell. Thanks for having me!

All thawed out

(Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves)

Produce champion of the grocery store, Fresh Del Monte is making some changes to its supply chain. Recently it announced a partnership with Flowspace, a software platform and distribution network for e-commerce logistics. This partnership will help Del Monte branch into the e-commerce space. Right now, few CPG companies are venturing into the e-commerce space due to the lack of fulfillment partners that are able to provide temperature-controlled facilities despite e-commerce being the next biggest opportunity for fast CPG growth. 

This new partnership plus the existing partnership with Tricount Logistics as Del Monte’s 3PL puts Del Monte in the perfect position to ramp up its e-commerce offering. Frank Garcia, senior vice president of operations at Flowspace, said in a news release, “Together with Tricont, we are reshaping the logistics landscape for CPG companies, setting a new standard for excellence in fulfillment.”

Temperature Checks

(Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves)

There’s a new dog in the cold chain fight, SnoFox Sciences, a company that specializes in cold chain analytics. It just received an additional $4.5 million in seed funding from Voyager Venture, which previously invested $1.2 million. SnoFox is helping cold chain shippers reduce waste and reach efficiency and sustainability goals. Its technology helps provide insights to what is already in place versus having to refit an entire warehouse with the latest and greatest. 

A SnoFox spokesperson told  Fleet Owner, “A cold storage facility can spend over $1 million a year on electricity. Cooling processes alone can account for 60-70% of the total electricity demands in a warehouse. It is crucial, both for financial and environmental reasons, to enhance efficiency and reduce the energy expended on temperature control. …  Leveraging existing facility data and their proprietary algorithms, SnoFox provides advanced analytics solutions that identify areas within cooling systems that can be improved to increase energy efficiency.”

Food and drugs

(Photo: Twitter)

Remember that one time back in 2017 when the internet did its job so hard that McDonald’s brought back its Szechuan sauce for one day? After a joke about the sauce was introduced in an episode of “Rick and Morty,” fans were desperate for the sauce to return. Well, in this instance McDonald’s is getting ahead of the demand with the new “As Featured In Meal,” with  fan favorite menu items that have made appearances in music, TV and film. This event will start Monday  and comes with some exclusive merch from London-based skate and streetwear brand PALACE. PALACE will be doing a pop-up fashion experience at the very first McDonald’s in Downey, California.

According to a Foodmarket article, “For a limited time, fans can relive the magic of their favorite characters and artists with one of three main menu items and sides.” A newly branded Sweet ’N Sour Sauce is inspired by Marvel Studios’ “Loki” Season 2, streaming Oct. 6 on Disney+ will be included in this promotion as well. 

Cold chain lanes

(SONAR Tickers: ROTVI.DBQ, ROTRI.DBQ)

This week’s reefer market is Dubuque, Iowa. Outbound tender rejections in Dubuque hit new heights as it took a 105.9 basis point increase from last week. Rejections are currently sitting at 15.6% in Dubuque, which is the highest rate since retail peak season last year. Before looking at the USDA AGRATE coming out of there, it’s a pretty good sign that harvest season has come to Iowa as contracted reefer carriers are rejecting loads to haul for harvest season. Capacity will likely only be constrained for a few weeks as the fields empty out then it’s back to business as usual. 

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Shelf life

Emergent Cold LatAm starts operations in the Dominican Republic and positions itself as a hub in the region

UPS Healthcare launches UPS Premier service across India

Nearly 400 Workers to be Impacted by Tysons Corydon Plant Closure

Blue Apron Cuts 20% Corporate Workforce After FreshRealm Sale, Eyeing Sales Growth in ‘24

Houston Restaurant Family Steps in to Alleviate Sriracha Shortage With Own Brand

Wanna chat in the cooler? Shoot me an email with comments, questions or story ideas at [email protected].

See you on the internet.

Mary

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