Before the turkey hits the table, the cranberry sauce is simmered and the aroma of freshly baked pie fills the kitchen – the ingredients need to make it to grocery stores in perfect condition!
We in logistics have a critical role to play in bringing families and friends together around a spread of great food each holiday season.
Cold chain logistics comes with challenges, especially in high-demand times of the year like these. That’s why it’s so important to store products at the right temperature and choose a reliable warehousing partner.
What’s the Right Temperature for Storing Holiday Foods?
When it comes to temperature-sensitive food storage, there’s no room for error. Holiday foods need to be warehoused at these temperatures to maintain their safety for consumers:
Holiday Food Storage Temperatures
| 🥶 Chill (35°F to 39°F) | 🥶🥶 Frozen (-4°F to 14°F) | 🥶🥶🥶 Deep-frozen (-22°F to -13°F) |
| Fresh cranberries, shucked corn and most fruits and vegetables | Frozen turkey, chicken and other meats | Seafood |
| Whipped cream and most dairy products | Pre-made boxed cakes and pies | Ice cream |
| Fresh turkey, ham and other meats | Frozen rolls and bread |
Related: Cold Storage: Storing More Than Food
At Classic Warehousing, we have more than 2.3 million cu. ft. of food-grade cold storage. With separate cooler rooms and a chilled doc, we ensure your product stays at the correct temperature through storage, loading and transportation on one of our Classic-owned reefer carriers. Our refrigerated trucks are satellite-equipped to offer real-time location and temperature checks.
Should a power outage occur, we have plans and policies in place to protect your products. In the event of a short-term outage, freezer doors are locked to contain the existing temperature. For longer outages, we bring in an industrial generator to power the cold storage units until power is restored.
Choose the Right Cold Warehousing Company for the Holidays (and Beyond!)
The right cold warehousing partner can help get you through the holiday season with fewer headaches and more time to spend with loved ones. Look for these three things when evaluating potential partners.
Prepared for Holiday Demand
Your logistics partner should be ready to meet holiday demand if they’ve been monitoring the industry, forecasting and planning ahead. At Classic Warehousing, we saw a growing need for cold storage in the industry and built a new climate-controlled warehouse that quadrupled our available freezer space.
Full Service Cold-Chain Management
Using one company for your cold storage, logistics, and transportation needs means your temperature-sensitive products will be subjected to the same policies and standards throughout the entire process.
All of our team members at Classic are selectively hired, trained and held to the highest standard. This minimizes opportunities for errors and ensures your products are handled with care every step of the way.
Committed to Getting It Right
The holidays can be a stressful time in logistics. Having a partner who cares about getting it right makes a big difference. Your logistics company should have transparent policies and procedures in place to keep food products at the correct temperature, mitigate issues and quickly address power outages.
Related: Top 3 Cold Chain Management Risks and How to Prevent Them
They should also communicate proactively and work collaboratively with you in managing your cold chain logistics. When you pick up the phone to call us, you’ll always get a Classic employee on the line ready to help you – no call centers, no waiting.
A Cold Chain Logistics Partner You Can Count On
With more than 35 years of experience in the trucking industry, Classic is a trusted partner in all things transportation, warehousing and logistics. We’re ready to support your holiday shipments! Contact us to request a quote.