Seafrigo Australia opens 10,000 m² cold chain facility

Seafrigo Australia Pty Ltd, trading as Mode Logistics across Australia, has opened a new 10,000-square-metre facility at Melbourne Airport. The new warehouse is four times the size of its previous site, increasing capacity and operational efficiency for food logistics.

The expansion allows for improved handling of preload units, extending loading windows for both day and night operations. Jason Farrugia, CEO of Mode Logistics, said: "The additional space gives us the ability to preload units overnight and again in the morning, helping us meet critical cut-off times and enhance our service reliability."

The facility is designed for airfreight and includes multiple temperature-controlled zones. These comprise frozen storage between -16°C and -20°C, chilled storage at 0°C to 4°C, and ambient temperature areas. The zones are intended to support the handling of meat, fish (fresh and frozen), dairy, horticultural products, and supermarket goods.

"Until now, we had to turn down business because we simply didn't have the space to accommodate more. With this new facility, we're not only meeting current demand but setting the stage for expansion into new markets," Farrugia added.

The site includes biosecurity-compliant infrastructure, such as fumigation chambers and a fully enclosed shutter system on docks, to safeguard sensitive shipments in line with Australia's biosecurity requirements.

Located within a 400-hectare logistics development at Melbourne Airport, the warehouse provides direct access to Victoria's road network, ensuring connectivity across the eastern seaboard.

Seafrigo, listed among Australia's top three export service providers, is focused largely on export flows, which account for around 90 percent of its current operations. The company plans to add quality inspection capabilities and upgraded warehouse management systems later in 2025.

Eric Barbé, President and Founder of Seafrigo, said: "Our investment in this new site underscores our commitment to operational excellence, customer satisfaction, and importantly, global reach. It will open up more opportunities in other international locations, especially those in the Middle East and Asia, which we serve from here."