This archive report was first published on 13 July 2020.
On Monday, Cold Solutions Kenya Limited, a leading temperature-controlled warehouse and logistics service provider, announced a Ksh 7.5 billion (USD 70 million) investment in constructing state-of-the-art cold storage warehouses in Kenya.
The cold storage facilities will be located in Nairobi and Mombasa, with the flagship facility to be constructed in the Tatu City Special Economic Zone in Nairobi.
The 15,000 sqm grade 'A' cold storage complex on six acres at Tatu City will be the country's largest, most advanced, and efficient in the region.
Utilizing a combination of local and international specialists, Cold Solutions Kenya's facility at Tatu City is expected to be operational in 12 to 18 months.
The facility will cater for numerous temperature ranges from +26 to -40 C and multiple product ranges, from fresh fruit and vegetables, to pharmaceuticals and vaccines, meats and poultry, and frozen foods.
Cold Solutions Kenya Limited is a portfolio company of ARCH Cold Chain Solutions East Africa Fund, a private equity fund advised by ARCH Emerging Markets Partners Limited (ARCH).
ARCH is a specialist emerging markets investment advisor with deep experience in emerging markets, private equity, asset management, and legal and governance matters.
According to the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), over 40% of food in Sub-Saharan Africa perishes before it reaches a consumer, with post-harvest losses of horticulture crops being far higher than those of cereal crops in Kenya.
Reacting to the investment announcement, Jared Irving, Managing Director, ARCH Emerging Markets Partners Limited, said, 'Cold Solutions' one-stop-shops are designed to allow businesses to keep track of products in real-time and facilitate transportation across East Africa through temperature-controlled trucks.'
Chris Barron, Kenya Country Head for Rendeavour, Tatu City's owner and developer, added, 'We are delighted to welcome Cold Solutions' transformational cold storage complex to Tatu Industrial Park.'
