CALGARY, Alberta — A global operator of temperature-controlled warehouses will locate facilities along the CPKC network, the railway and Americold Realty Trust announced on Wednesday.
The first cold storage facility under the collaboration deal will be built in Kansas City, Mo., which is on the route of CPKC’s new Mexico Midwest Express intermodal service linking Chicago with points in Mexico.
CPKC’s temperature-controlled service aims to send U.S.-produced meat to Mexico and Mexican-grown produce to the U.S. It’s the first cross-border intermodal reefer service between the two countries.
“CPKC is pleased to collaborate with Americold to provide innovative solutions for our customers throughout North America with this Kansas City facility, the first of many we intend to build in the years to come,” CPKC CEO Keith Creel said in a statement. “CPKC’s new Mexico Midwest Express premium intermodal service, combined with one of the largest fleets of refrigerated containers in the industry, and now this collaboration, will further elevate this world-class service offering moving a range of food and other products to and from Mexico.”
CPKC announced in last month that it more than doubled the size of its fleet of refrigerated 53-foot containers with the acquisition of 1,000 new reefers.
Americold operates nearly 250 temperature-controlled warehouses around the globe.
“At Americold, we are constantly looking for innovative ways to create value for our large global customers. This partnership with CPKC leverages the strengths of both companies, and enables us to offer solutions together that we would not be able to offer separately,” Americold CEO George Chappelle said in a statement. “The combination of Americold’s vast North American facilities network and world-class coldchain operating model with CPKC’s new MMX intermodal service and refrigerated assets will produce a new and unique offering to the food supply chain.”
The MMX temperature controlled service will move fresh and frozen produce, baked goods, candy, and other food products northbound and beef, chicken, and pork to southern markets.
MMX trains now link Chicago, Kansas City, Texas markets, Monterrey and San Luis Potosi offering third-day service to/from Laredo, fourth-day service to/from Monterrey and 4.5-day service to/from San Luis Potosi. MMX provides transit time of 98 hours from Chicago to San Luis Potosi – a day faster than the nearest competitor, CPKC says.
Share this article
