Emergent Cold LatAm, the largest provider of temperature-controlled food logistics solutions in Latin America, inaugurated the expansion of its Olivo facility in Santiago. Following this expansion, the site has reached a capacity of up to 33,000 pallet positions, becoming the largest automated cold storage facility for frozen foods both in Chile and Latin America.

The expansion increases the company’s operational capacity and is part of its broader infrastructure development for the food industry in Chile, amid growing demand for temperature-controlled storage and distribution solutions.

Located in Maipú, the facility is focused on cold chain logistics in the central region of the country and will primarily serve retail, food service, and traditional channel companies.

“We see increasing demand for temperature-controlled food storage and distribution solutions, which makes cold chain infrastructure development a key element for various productive sectors,” said Alain Eichmann, Managing Director of Emergent Cold LatAm’s Andean region. “The expansion of Olivo complements our cold chain network in the country, allowing us to meet the needs of major clients who require agile logistics solutions for distribution in central Chile.”

Chile is one of Emergent Cold LatAm’s key markets in the region. The company operates a network of nine cold storage facilities across the country, from Casablanca to Puerto Varas, with a total capacity of 155,000 pallet positions.

This infrastructure plays a critical role in the food supply chain, both in the domestic market and in import and export processes, supporting continuity in an industry that is vital to the economy.

Emergent Cold LatAm began operations in Chile in November 2021 with the acquisition of one of the country’s leading local companies. In 2023, it strengthened its presence with two additional acquisitions. The following year, it completed construction of the largest cold storage facility in Chile, located in Talcahuano.

Technological Innovation and Sustainability

Olivo’s automated system enables the management of large volumes of products with high precision, reducing operational errors and improving safety standards by minimizing human intervention in high-risk areas. It also maximizes the use of available space, increases storage capacity, reduces energy costs, and ensures real-time inventory control.

In terms of sustainability, the facility incorporates advanced standards in both design and operation. Currently, nearly one-third of the cold storage facility holds EDGE Zero Carbon certification, meaning that 100% of the energy used in that portion of the operation comes from renewable sources. Additionally, the expansion has achieved EDGE Advanced certification, ensuring at least a 40% reduction in energy and water consumption, along with a significant decrease in embodied carbon in construction materials.

As a next step, the company aims to achieve EDGE Zero Carbon certification for the entire facility.

Emergent Cold LatAm has structured its own model to ensure that every facility achieves operational efficiency from day one: Emergent Way, which incorporates lean principles from planning and construction through to the operational maturity of temperature-controlled distribution centers.

Here we will explain the objective of this methodology, the criteria we use to evaluate the lean maturity of the units and the structure of our internal operational certification process.

Objective of lean methodology

At Emergent Cold LatAm, the lean methodology has three main objectives:

• Stabilize the operation, reducing the variability in critical processes such as receiving, storage, picking, loading and temperature control of food.
• Eliminate waste, such as excessive journeys of the loads, long waits, reworking and any activities that don’t add value for the client.
• Strengthen a culture of continuous improvement, guaranteeing predictability and operational sustainability in the whole network.

In operations where controlled temperature, speed and trackability need to be maintained 24/7, the lean methodology functions as the system that ensures operational discipline, reduces risks and improves performance.

The Eight Lean Fundamentals

The basis of the lean formation in a company is structured in eight fundamental essentials, applied in all units:

1. Lean Culture
2. Resolution of problems
3. Visual management
4. Analysis of flow of value
5. Standardized work
6. 5S
7. Kaizen
8. Voice of the Client

They guarantee a common understanding between operators, leaders and managers, creating operational discipline, sustaining growth.

What the lean evaluation analyzes

The lean evaluation was developed on the basis of three central pillars, which organize all the criteria and topics reviewed during the process. Each pillar brings together essential aspects to measure the degree of lean maturity of a unit and to guide its plan of evolution.

1. Leadership and Culture

This pillar verifies whether the leadership is aligned and engaged in the lean methodology and evaluates:

• Active leadership;
• Alignment on priorities and lean standards;
• Involvement of the teams in the routines and improvement practices.

The focus is to guarantee that the lean culture is incorporated into the behavior of the leaders and the operational routines.

2. Implementation of the Lean Fundamentals

Here we measure whether the lean methodology does in fact take place in the day to day operation, and evaluates:

• Training of the teams in lean fundamentals;
• Level of implementation of lean tools in the operational areas.

This pillar shows whether the practice is consolidated and is not just the theoretical knowledge.

3. Sustainability of the Lean Culture

This pillar verifies whether the operation is able to maintain the lean practice over time, with discipline and consistency, and evaluates:

• Replicability of the standards and practices between shifts and processes;
• Indicators of operational excellence that sustain continuous improvement;
• Use of Emergent Cold LatAm standards and norms which guarantee uniformity in the whole network.

This is the pillar that measures the capacity of the unit to maintain stable results and to evolve in the model of excellence.

How the evaluation process works

The lean certification process has clear stages that involve both the local leadership and regional specialists.

1. Self-evaluation of the unit

Conducted by the local team and by the Lean Champion, this stage identifies the actual state and highlights the points needing immediate intervention.

2. Official evaluation

Carried out by a regional Lean Specialist or external consultant, and which reviews the following:

• Operational evidence;
• Indicators;
• Management practices;
• Accompaniment of the action plan;
• Coherence between processes and results.

3. Report on maturity and action plan

The unit receives:

• Level of lean maturity;
• Category of corresponding certification;
• Detailed recommendations.

4. Cycle of evolution

A regional roadmap defines when each unit is to undergo further evaluations, respecting the rhythm of evolution and operational complexity.

Categories of Lean Certification

The units are classified in accordance with their level of lean maturity. The categories used are:

• Basic – initial lean structures established and stability in development;
• Bronze – lean standards and routines applied consistently;
• Silver – high predictability, consolidated indicators and continuous improvement present in day to day operations;
• Gold – robust processes, structured governance and sustainable results;
• World Class – benchmark in operational excellence, high level of standardization, innovation and superior continuous improvement.

This scale enables the evolution of the units to be accompanied over time.

Emergent Way: Lean from the ground up

Emergent Way is the proprietary model of Emergent Cold LatAm which integrates lean from the origin of the operation. This means that:

• The layout is planned with lean principles;
• The flows of movement are developed to minimize waste;
• Visual management systems are incorporated right from implantation;
• Work standards are defined before the start of activities;
• The ramp-up follows lean practices to guarantee productivity from the very first day.

The lean journey at Emergent Cold LatAm brings together methodology, governance, culture and our own model of implementation which speeds up operational maturity and establishes high standards throughout the cold chain.

With objective evaluations, internal development of talents and consistent practices of continuous improvement, each unit evolves in a solid, predictable manner aligned with the requirements for temperature-controlled logistics.

Emergent Cold LatAm, the leading provider of food temperature-controlled logistics solutions in Latin America, achieved two new EDGE Zero Carbon certifications, one of the most important global sustainability recognitions for buildings. The certified facilities are located in Santiago, Chile, and Irapuato, Mexico.

This recognition certifies that these facilities have neutralized their carbon emissions and that 100% of the energy they use comes from renewable sources. To achieve this certification, facilities must first obtain EDGE Advanced, which requires at least 40% energy savings and a 20% reduction in water consumption and embodied energy in building materials.

Emergent Cold LatAm was also a pioneer in the industry, becoming the first company globally to receive this certification. In July 2024, the San Pedro de La Paz facility in Chile made history by being certified as carbon neutral. This was followed by certifications for facilities in Panama, Brazil, and Ecuador.

EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies) certifications are administered by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), part of the World Bank, and aim to promote more sustainable and resource-efficient construction worldwide. The company currently has 17 EDGE-certified buildings across the 11 countries where it operates, including six EDGE Zero Carbon facilities.

Emergent Cold LatAm, the largest provider of temperature-controlled food logistics solutions in Latin America, inaugurated today a modern cold storage warehouse in the Guadalajara region, marking its expansion into a new area of Mexico.

The new facility has capacity for 12,000 pallet positions across 81,000 cubic meters. The space is designed to store the equivalent of 12,000 tons of food. The site also includes enough land for future expansions that could double its storage capacity.

“Guadalajara is one of the largest and most dynamic cities in Mexico, and it holds a privileged position for connecting our customers with the ports of Manzanillo and Lázaro Cárdenas,” said Juan Pablo Benítez, Managing Director of Emergent Cold LatAm in Mexico. “We continue to grow rapidly in the country, and our investments reflect this commitment: we aim to provide modern cold chain solutions and high-quality logistics services exactly where the market needs them most.”

In March 2025, the company opened its first ground-up warehouse in Mexico, located in Monterrey. In the months prior, it completed the expansion of two facilities in Villagrán (Guanajuato) and Apodaca.

Emergent Cold LatAm began its operations in Mexico in September 2022 with the acquisition of a local company. In January of the following year, it completed the acquisition of a second company and consolidated its operations in the country. Now the company operates 36 warehouses in Mexican territory.