Construction is expected to start next year on a new cold storage cluster in Rotterdam Cool Port, with a planned capacity of 40,000 temperature-controlled pallet spaces.

Kloosterboer and the Port of Rotterdam Authority are investing in the project on the City Terminal site in the Waalhaven/Eemhaven: Rotterdam Cool Port, with the final project due for completion in the first half of 2015.

The new cold store will be specialized in the storage and handling of refrigerated and frozen cargo in reefer containers, with accompanying services like empty depots and food inspection due to be set up in the future.

"We are extremely proud about the start of Rotterdam Cool Port. We, as a port, have much experience in the cold storage sector and Rotterdam Cool Port is a valuable expansion of operations in this field," Port of Rotterdam Authority COO Ronald Paul said.

"As this location has many multimodal connections with the container cluster on the Maasvlakte as well as all surrounding Greenports and the final destinations in Europe, Cool Port will make a real contribution to the sustainability and efficiency of the supply chain for fresh produce."

Kloosterboer is buying five hectares of land with the option to expand in the future.

"We are very pleased to have the opportunity to set up business at Cool Port. Here, we want to offer our clients the highest possible level of service in the perishable goods sector, via a state-of-the-art terminal," said Kloosterboer CEO Hans Kroes.

In a release published yesterday, Total Produce B.V. highlighted it signed an agreement with Kloosterboer on Oct. 9, giving the green light to a process that would involve its ultimate move to Cool Port in 2017.

The company said the port's location would enable it to take advantage of several different modes of transport, including water, rail and road.

"Located on the waterside it will not only be possible to take full advantage of the barge, but also to export over water via short-sea connections to Scandinavian countries," Total Produce B.V. said in the release.

"Cool Port also borders directly on the RSC, the rail terminal at the Waalhaven, thus facilitating the use of rail transport for products.

The company said the port's new warehouse would lend itself to a considerable improvement in service compared to the current situation, providing more in-house packaging options.

"By entering into a partnership with Kloosterboer, we will be able to offer our customers the level of service they demand from us, now and in the future," Total Produce B.V. managing director Michel Jansen said in the release.

"We have full confidence that by bundling our expertise, we will reinforce one another and that together we can set up a successful operation with a focus on the future."

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