This will be a year of growth for the CCF’s Expert Groups, writes CCF deputy chief executive Tom Southall
The Cold Chain Federation (CCF) is on a mission to support our members to strive for the highest standards. We’ve invested heavily in industry-leading guidance on topics ranging from health and safety to net zero, energy efficiency and food safety.
Our reports have been accessed by thousands of professionals and while this investment will continue, we are also specifically focusing on expanding and strengthening our Expert Groups.
The CCF’s Expert Groups play a vital role in providing a safe community for like-minded professionals in specific job functions to discuss common challenges and learn from each other, while working with the CCF team to ensure the cold chain can meet the challenges of a fast-changing landscape for regulation and policy.
Cold Storage Construction
In 2024, the CCF agreed to continue the previous work of the Controlled Environment Building Association UK (CEBA UK) under a new CCF Expert Group.
The Cold Store Construction Expert Group, which first sat in September, consists of a committee from across the CCF membership of experts in the design, construction, maintenance and operation of temperature-controlled warehousing.
The primary role of the group will be to produce and maintain industry guidance on the design and specification of a modern cold store, aimed not only at designers and specifiers but also advising owners and operators of cold storage businesses on best practice.
And we’re not stopping there. This spring our Expert Group for professionals in pharmaceutical distribution will launch, bringing the number of groups to four:
Technical and Safety
A forum to discuss health and safety, food safety compliance and technical issues, such as refrigeration.
Refrigerated Transport
For refrigerated fleet managers, with a particular focus on the decarbonisation of transport refrigeration units.
Cold Store Construction
Overseeing the production of advisory products relating to the design and specification of modern cold storage facilities.
Pharmaceutical Distribution
A place for pharmaceutical logistics professionals to share insight, discuss specific regulatory issues and strengthen best practice.
A Mission to Make the Best Choices
“Cold store buildings need to be capable of sustaining a controlled temperature of -18°C or lower indefinitely in the most energy-efficient way possible.
The challenges of sustaining this environment are specific to our industry and very important for the wider UK economy because of the strategic importance of the food chain, manufacturing, and pharma products we store.
The objective for our group is to produce guidance that will help designers, operators and builders make the best choices they can in the design, construction and efficiency of operation of the next generation of cold stores.”
— Michael McKane, chairman of the CCF’s Cold Store Construction Expert Group
Michael McKane is chairman of the CCF’s Cold Store Construction Expert Group and chair of CEBA (the Controlled Environment Building Association), which has driven the promotion and standards of modern temperature-controlled warehousing in the UK.
Get Involved
To find out how you can participate in the CCF’s Expert Groups, contact Tom Southall or Maddy Coupe.
