Mobile Menu

Refrigerated Storage in the US - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Oliwier Samorajski Oliwier Samorajski New York, United States Last Updated: November 2024 NAICS 49312

Revenue

$8.6bn

2024

$8.6bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$X.Xbn

Employees

62,654

Businesses

2,780

Wages

$X.Xbn

Refrigerated Storage in the US industry analysis

Following the global pandemic, there was a marked shift in consumer behavior, with more people opting for higher-quality, high-margin food brands, which amplified the need for refrigerated storage solutions. The period saw major players in the industry engaging in acquisitions and joint ventures to bolster their market position amid growing competition. Automation and advanced technologies became prominent, allowing companies to enhance operational efficiency and reduce labor costs, drawing increased investor interest, particularly in ESG compliance and sustainable practices. Revenue has been increasing at a CAGR of 1.5% over the past five years and is expected to reach $8.6 billion in 2024.

Trends and Insights

  • Rising consumer demand for high-quality foods is boosting the need for Refrigerated Storage. Health-conscious consumers enhance revenue and profit for downstream food retailers, driving growth in storage, transportation and logistical services.
  • Resilient economic activity and online food sales support the expansion of refrigerated storage services. Online shopping led to the outsourcing of storage operations to specialized third-party providers, boosting the segment's growth.
  • The Southeast’s infrastructure and strategic location make it a leader in refrigerated storage. Its dense network of highways, railroads and major ports supports efficient exports and imports of perishable goods.
  • The expansion of e-commerce is driving growth and attracting new entrants. The newly established companies are seizing opportunities created by the increasing demand for regional refrigerated storage solutions.

Access hundreds of analysis and data

  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
  • PDF report or online database with Word, Excel and PowerPoint export options
  • 100% money back guarantee

Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 1.5 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $8.6bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Evolving consumption demands are driving the need for cold storage facilities

  • As everyday consumers spend more freely on food products, brick-and-mortar stores and e-commerce businesses ramp up using refrigerated storage providers. In the post-pandemic recovery through 2024, storage operators enjoyed robust growth as they capitalized on rising consumer demand and the expansion of many e-commerce brands that delivered food items to consumers' homes.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Refrigerated Storage in the US
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Storage facilities are set to adopt new technologies to differentiate themselves from competition

  • Cold storage providers are set to overcome the shift towards in-house storage by expanding their operations and providing more value-added services to their clients. Third-party logistics (3PL) providers are developing cost-reducing solutions using voice recognition and radio-frequency identification (RFID) for material handling activities. By implementing RFID technology, storage providers can offer enhanced control over temperature-sensitive products and employ automated inventory tracking through tags on storage locations and individual pallets, differentiating them from the competition.

Biggest companies in the Refrigerated Storage in the US

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($m)
2024
Profit ($m)
2024
Profit Margin (%)
2024
Lineage Logistics Holdings, Llc
2,837.9
127.7
4.5
Americold Realty Trust
1,913.1
578.1
30.2
United States Cold Storage Inc.
403.5
24.2
6.0

To view the market share and analysis for all 3 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Refrigerated Storage in the US
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Storage of goods, Handling of goods and Transportation of goods. Storage of goods is the largest segment of the Refrigerated Storage in the US.

Trends and Insights

Online food sales and resilient economic activity elevate the need for the storage of goods

  • Retailers, wholesalers, importers and exporters outsource storage services to specialized storage providers. Warehousing services can vary in duration and temperature, from the short-term storage of fresh fruit and vegetables to the sub-zero storage of frozen products for extended periods.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

The Refrigerated Storage industry consists of companies that manage refrigerated warehousing and storage facilities. They provide temperature-controlled services like blast freezing and tempering, along with specialized storage for furs intended for trade. The stored furs serve as raw materials for manufacturing garments and personal accessories, including bags and shoes.

What's included in this industry?

Providing blast freezing servicesProviding tempering servicesOperating modified atmosphere storage and warehousing (private and public)

Companies

Lineage Logistics Holdings, LlcAmericold Realty TrustUnited States Cold Storage Inc.

Purchase this report to view all 3 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

RADIO-FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION (RFID)THIRD-PARTY LOGISTICS PROVIDER (3PL)ORDER PICKINGBLAST FREEZING

Industry Code

NAICS 2017

NAICS 49312 - Refrigerated Storage in the US

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Rising consumer demand for high-quality foods is boosting the need for Refrigerated Storage. Health-conscious consumers enhance revenue and profit for downstream food retaile...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Resilient economic activity and online food sales support the expansion of refrigerated storage services. Online shopping led to the outsourcing of storage operations to spec...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

The Southeast’s infrastructure and strategic location make it a leader in refrigerated storage. Its dense network of highways, railroads and major ports supports efficient ex...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each state
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each state in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each state in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

The expansion of e-commerce is driving growth and attracting new entrants. The newly established companies are seizing opportunities created by the increasing demand for regi...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Lineage Logistics went public in July 2024, conducting the largest IPO of the year by raising $4.4 billion. This move will provide the company with access to additional capit...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Lineage Logistics Holdings, Llc's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Americold Realty Trust's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of United States Cold Storage Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Lineage Logistics Holdings, Llc, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Americold Realty Trust, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for United States Cold Storage Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) oversees cold storage operations. The FSIS regulates and enforces health standards regarding the nation's commercial supply of m...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Wages are the largest costs for businesses offering refrigerated storage services. Companies rely heavily on manual labor to monitor facilities, send and retrieve items to an...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Industry Multiples (2017-2022)
  • Industry Tax Structure (2017-2022)
  • Income Statement (2017-2022)
  • Balance Sheet (2017-2022)
  • Liquidity Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2017-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Refrigerated Storage in the US industry in United States in 2024?

The market size of the Refrigerated Storage in the US industry in United States is $8.6bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Refrigerated Storage in the US industry in 2024?

There are 2,780 businesses in the Refrigerated Storage in the US industry in United States, which has grown at a CAGR of 5.0 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Refrigerated Storage in the US industry in United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Refrigerated Storage in the US industry in United States has been growing at a CAGR of 1.5 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Refrigerated Storage in the US industry in United States over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Refrigerated Storage in the US industry in United States is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Refrigerated Storage in the US market in United States?

The biggest companies operating in the Refrigerated Storage market in United States are Lineage Logistics Holdings, Llc, Americold Realty Trust and United States Cold Storage Inc.

What does the Refrigerated Storage in the US in United States include?

Providing blast freezing services and Providing tempering services are part of the Refrigerated Storage in the US industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Refrigerated Storage in the US in United States?

The company holding the most market share in United States is Lineage Logistics Holdings, Llc.

How competitive is the Refrigerated Storage in the US industry in United States?

The level of competition is moderate and steady in the Refrigerated Storage in the US industry in United States.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • General Warehousing & Storage in the US
  • Farm Product Storage & Warehousing in the US

Complementors

  • Tank & Refrigeration Trucking in the US
  • Refrigerated Storage in the US

International industries

  • General Warehousing & Storage in Canada
  • General Warehousing and Cold Storage in Australia
  • Warehousing and Storage Services in New Zealand
  • Warehousing & Storage in the UK
  • Warehousing & Storage in Ireland

View all industries in United States

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in the US include: 

  • US Census Bureau
  • US Bureau of Labor Statistics
  • US International Trade Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.