Across the country, natural population growth is triggering demand for more space for the manufacturing, processing, storing and distributing of food. Cold storage facilities cater to this demand by offering numerous types of warehousing solutions, from chilled spaces for dairy products and dry fruits and vegetables to freezer facilities for meat and seafood. Most major grocers are slowing their paces of new store openings while also developing their online delivery platforms, the latter of which is a key demand generator for cold storage facilities. A 2018 study by Food Marketing Institute and global market research firm Nielsen found that the online grocery shopping market will ensnare 70 percent of consumers to some degree by 2024. The report also projected that the percentage of online grocery shopping relative to total grocery sales would grow significantly in the coming years from its mark of 3 percent in 2017. Total online grocery sales are eventually expected to exceed $100 billion. According to some industry experts, that growth translates to a need for an additional 40-some million square feet of cold storage product — just to meet demand for online groceries. The advent of meal kits — online platforms that provide ingredients and recipes …
