NewCold has announced a major expansion of its automated cold storage facility in Wakefield, United Kingdom. The new phase, known as Wakefield III, is designed to increase national frozen storage capacity and enhance the resilience of the UK food supply chain. Once completed, the project will bring NewCold’s total UK capacity to 344,000 pallet positions, including capacity at its Corby site.
In operation since 2015, NewCold Wakefield is the UK’s largest deep-frozen storage and distribution centre, running at –23°C with a focus on energy efficiency. The facility currently offers 142,800 pallet positions, 16 automated stacker cranes, and 28 loading docks, serving major food manufacturers and retailers nationwide.
Wakefield III will introduce a new automated frozen high bay warehouse with 19,380 additional pallet locations and develop the remaining three acres of trailer parking. The expansion will be fully integrated with the existing facility through new pallet conveyor systems connecting the low bay and high bay areas.
Key features of Wakefield III include the installation of two new automated stacker cranes, new plantrooms for O₂-reduction and refrigeration systems, and enhancements to automatic truck loading systems to improve thermal efficiency. The development is aimed at absorbing additional volume from core customers and meeting overflow demand in a constrained capacity market.
NewCold UK Managing Director Richard Russell said: “Wakefield III is more than a capacity increase, it’s a long-term investment in the resilience of the UK cold chain. As our customers grow, we must ensure they have uninterrupted access to efficient, secure, and sustainable storage. This extension allows us to future-proof the site, integrate even more advanced automation, and continue delivering the reliability NewCold is known for.”
