Poland’s peerless potential for cold chain logistics

Poland. As Central Europe’s second largest country, it is a hugely attractive market for all sorts of food professionals. The $427.7 billion economy’s food sector is undergoing constant change, with new trends emerging each year. One thing is certain, however: the nation’s inherent potential for cold chain logistics providers.

Poland’s food production output uncovers cold chain potential

Poland produces huge volumes of food annually, producing impressive amounts of cargo that requires servicing. In 2015, Poland produced:

•    15 million tons of milk
•    5.6 million tons of vegetables
•    4.1 million tons of fruit
•    2.3 million tons of poultry
•    2.0 million tons of pork
•    0.5 million tons of frozen vegetables
•    0.5 million tons of fish & seafood

10.3 million square metres of chilled storage space is already in place throughout Poland and another 640,000 square metres is being built. With $2 billion being invested annually on new warehousing facilities, expect this already impressive square-meterage to blossom in the coming years.

Warehousing, however, is not the be all and end all of cold chain logistics. A number of factors are driving up the need for such transport solutions across the country – not least of all the food sector, where domestic consumption and foreign trade requires buoyant, efficient chilled logistics services.

Fresh, frozen or chilled? Poland’s exports & imports needs cold chain

The import and export of fresh, chilled or frozen produce is an ongoing concern for Poland. Each year, millions of tons of food and beverage cargoes, requiring chilled transportation, makes enters and exits the country.

Food exports are a vital part of Poland’s multi-billion dollar economy. The nation’s Central European location makes it the ultimate regional food hub, able to reach beyond the EU and into the Middle East, North Africa, and Asia. Polish companies need to get their products to overseas markets intact, ready for processing or eating.

2015 saw Poland export over 2.25 million tons of frozen, chilled or fresh meat, fish, fruit and vegetable products, according to the latest data from the Central Statistical Office of Poland. Imports told a similar story. 1.4 million tons of goods from the same product groups were imported by Poland across 2015.

How? With expert cold chain management and facilities, of course. There is a very real desire for top quality, imported produce in Poland. This opens up the market for logistics firms specialising in temperature controlled transportation.

Whether it is the need for reefer trucks, chiller equipment, warehousing facilities or other requirements, Poland’s exporters are on the lookout for superlative cold chain logistics services.

Poland’s food market trends points towards higher cold chain demand

Exports and imports do impose some heavy demands on chilled transporters, yet that is just one aspect of Poland’s food sector that requires temperature sensitive services. A number of trends are shaping Polish consumption habits – all of which point towards a greater need for logistics options.

Take frozen food. 43% of Poles, whose busy lifestyles leave little time for lengthy meal preparations, consume ready-to-eat, frozen meals on weeknights. This sector has been growing at roughly 3% annually,  and is expected to be worth approximately $443 million by 2019. Expect suppliers to step up delivery orders in the coming years (which means increased scope for expansion into Poland for cold chain operators).

Where Poles buy food has also largely changed since the millennium. Hyper and supermarkets now dominate proceedings with a 72% market share of Poland’s food retail market. Each format is expected to grow 13.3% and 19.9% respectively by 2019. Food retail by its nature requires a constant influx of fresh, chilled or frozen goods to keep up with customer demand – something compounded by Poles’ increasingly active lives.

Poland’s organic food sector is growing at an unprecedented rate, some 20% year-on-year, meaning huge demand for fresh, top quality fruits and vegetables. 64% of Poles are increasingly health conscious, preferring to eat clean, and they want their products to be delivered as soon as possible in top condition.

Poland’s food & beverage sector is reliant on cold chain services

Thanks to the importance of the food and drink industry to Poland’s economy, and its favourable location, it is already well serviced by road, air and rail links. Two major transport corridors, linking Poland to Northern Europe, Central Asia and even further afield, cross the country.

Interested in uncovering Poland’s hugely promising potential for the cold chain sector? Head to WorldFood Warsaw. Held in April every year, this event features a section devoted entirely to cold chain and chilled logistics.

Here, you will be in contact with the leading lights of Poland’s food and beverage sector, plus international companies exploring, established or entering the market. In order to access Poland’s food logistics sector, WorldFood Warsaw is the place to be. Do not miss out.

Contact us now to learn more about the event’s dedicated cold chain annex, and the ways in which you can take part at next year’s show.

[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]