Arlington, Virginia US: The Association of Refrigerated Warehouses and International Refrigerated Transportation Association are to merge and form the Global Cold Chain Alliance.
The Global Cold Chain Alliance currently serves as an umbrella to unite partners in the temperature-controlled products industry.
It comprises of its core partners, including the International Association of Refrigerated Warehouses, the World Food Logistics Organization, the International Refrigerated Transportation Association, and the Controlled Environment Building Association.
In future, the IARW and IRTA will operate as the Global Cold Chain Alliance with Warehouse and Transportation membership categories. WFLO and CEBA will continue to be partners of the Global Cold Chain Alliance operating as separate entities.
“Success of the global supply chain depends on transportation and warehousing working closely together. The merger of IARW and IRTA recognizes that important connection and will help strengthen the global supply chain at this critical time,” said IARW immediate past chairman, Ron Buford, who was chairman when the agreement was finalised.
“Working together, the Warehouse and Transportation members can easily and efficiently develop and implement collaborative solutions to problems facing the cold chain community as a whole.”
Over the coming months, the IARW and IRTA Boards will work with staff to solidify the structure and governance of the merged entity. That information will be shared with the membership later this year. Pending approval from the respective memberships in October, IARW and IRTA will continue to operate as currently structured through 2022, with the restructured GCCA to be launched 1 January 2023.
“IRTA and IARW coming together affords us a tremendous opportunity to showcase thought leadership and enhance cross-community engagement between two vital sectors of the global supply chain,” stated Todd Lanter, IRTA chairman. “By formally bringing together our organizations we can better support the industry and the members we serve.”
