CCF Trip to Northern Ireland

Published on February 25 2025

Our Deputy Chief Executive Tom Southall Reflects on his recent visit to members in Northern Ireland.

Value added services, diverse product portfolios, sustainability initiatives and customer service – just some of the factors that mean that no cold chain business is the same. This week I’ve had the pleasure visiting members in Northern Ireland, where a small but diverse group of companies provide a critical role in the global supply of perishable products to consumers.

Northern Ireland is seriously under-acknowledged for its contribution to the production of food, particularly meat and dairy products. The regional food and drink industry is worth £5.4bn and is the region’s largest manufacturing industry according to Invest NI. Due to its unique position in the UK, but with borderless access to the European market, Northern Irish products are supplied across the UK but also exported in significant quantities to over 70 countries. This unique position supports a thriving group of Cold Chain Federation members who process, store and distribute domestically produced products and handle imports arriving through Ports like Belfast and via road from the Republic of Ireland.

The majority of the businesses I visited are in family ownership and like their counterparts in the UK and beyond are investing in new kit, often with a focus on sustainability. I’ve seen a newly built industry leading chilled store on the Port of Belfast built to high sustainability standards, unique approaches to slashing emissions from refrigerated transport and plans for new plant and cold storage space . Despite ongoing challenges for the beef industry, where inflation is impacting supply, the future looks bright for cold chain in NI.

An inspiring week with lots of food for thought on how the CCF can do more to support the thriving Northern Irish cold chain sector. Thanks to all those who hosted me: Gourmet Island, Manfreight, KSM Lurgancot, Granville Foodcare, Ardboe Coldstores, McCulla Ireland and Interfrigo.

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