Global freight forwarder International Cargo Logistics (ICL) has significantly expanded its cold storage facility at Heathrow Airport to address increasing customer demand. The facility has nearly doubled in size, growing from 153 square meters to 300 square meters.
The expanded facility now includes five chambers with varying temperature regimes, X-ray capabilities, and external temporary storage facilities (ESTF). Additionally, ICL has equipped the facility with temperature-controlled vehicles to ensure efficient transportation of goods across the UK. To further streamline operations, the ICL Site Unit 13 features inspection areas for the UK Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and a control point for Customs checks and clearances.
Nick Finbow, Perishables Sales Director at ICL, remarked, “This expansion, which comes as we celebrate our 20th anniversary this year, greatly enhances our ability to deliver high-quality logistics services from our Heathrow site. Our clients from the perishables sector can now benefit from centralized, round-the-clock logistics services as well as access to an efficient and reliable national distribution network, saving them valuable time and resources while allowing for fresher products to enter the UK food chain.”
Finbow also highlighted ICL’s plans to achieve BRC accreditation by the end of the summer, which will enable the company to serve a broader range of retailers and wholesalers.
In recent months, ICL has made several strategic moves to enhance its operations and expand its reach. In March, the Heathrow-headquartered company announced a collaboration with UK firm FreshLinc for final-mile delivery of UK airfreight. Additionally, in February, ICL opened a new office in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, as part of its efforts to expand perishables operations across Europe and beyond.
Looking ahead, ICL aims to extend its global reach with plans to establish a presence in Southeast Asia, starting with a new office in Vietnam. Currently, the forwarder operates in over 207 countries.
This expansion underscores ICL’s commitment to meeting the growing demands of the perishables sector and enhancing its logistics capabilities on a global scale.