COMMERCIAL Cold Holdings (CCH) has made a significant move to expand South Africa’s cold chain infrastructure by investing in CCH Greenbushes, a state-of-the-art commercial cold storage facility in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape.
“This tactical addition to our portfolio will bolster the export market of local citrus and other fruits enhancing the country’s export capabilities while reinforcing South Africa’s position in the global markets,” said Paul Gibbons, CEO of CCH. “At the same time, CCH Greenbushes is well positioned to increase the efficiency of our frozen meat imports. This acquisition follows CCH’s mission to expand and enhance the African cold chain, and work towards food security.”
The CCH Greenbushes investment marks the group’s first greenfield development and is strategically located to leverage the port city’s robust shipping infrastructure.
The cold storage facility, with an 8,000-pallet capacity, is designed for mixed-use applications, catering to fruit exports, frozen imports, and general bulk storage. This multi-purpose approach ensures that the facility can adapt to various market needs, thereby maximising its utility and profitability.
The CCH Greenbushes project is expected to generate approximately 100 new jobs, providing a much-needed boost to the local economy.
“While the fruit sector in the Eastern Cape has always been strong, with great potential for taking maximum advantage of the export market, the local farmers and producers have always been underserviced by local cold storage, often having to look further afield for cold store facilities and access to ports, increasing costs considerably, and this would be exacerbated by the projected export volumes in the region,” said Gibbons. “The renewable energy alternatives planned means we can operate more efficiently, dependably, and in line with our ESG priorities,” he added.
With this new facility, CCH aims to mitigate these constraints and ensure that South African produce remains globally competitive.
CCH’s involvement goes beyond capital injection; the group brings its extensive logistical expertise to bear on the project, enhancing operational efficiency through advanced systems, infrastructure upgrades, and workforce development.
The Greenbushes facility represents a significant milestone for CCH’s cold chain platform, which continues to explore further acquisitions and greenfield developments across the continent. Looking ahead, CCH plans to expand its cold chain logistics platform through additional investments, focusing on both brownfield and greenfield opportunities.
“With our investments, we plan to play a key role in growing the sector while positively impacting local communities,” concluded Gibbons.
