GCCA Europe Cold Chain Conference
Programming subject to change.
The European Cold Chain Conference provides a unique stage to understand market developments and upcoming trends, to address leading cold chain issues and learn about latest innovations with industry captains and business experts.
This is your premier opportunity to connect with the leaders and ideas shaping our industry. We encourage you to explore the complete programme for the 2026 GCCA European Cold Chain Conference to discover the sessions and speakers you can't afford to miss.
Wednesday, 18 March
Cold Chain Café | 10:30 - 12:15
The Cold Chain Café is a roundtable discussion component of the program where attendees will participate in valuable dialogue with their peers. Participants will engage in up to 3 fast-paced, 15-minute discussions and choose several hot topics such as:
Energy and Sustainability
Market Disruptions & Evolutions
Practical HR: The Impact of Absenteeism
Transport Decarbonization
Cold Chain Food Safety and Traceability
Welcome & Opening Remarks | 13:15 - 14:45
Julie Hanson, Director of Europe, GCCA
Ben van Leeuwen, Chair European Logistics Council, Director, Frigolanda Group
GCCA State of the Association
Sara Stickler, President & CEO, GCCA
Sara Stickler, President & CEO, GCCA, will provide a detailed overview of the organization's current priorities and plans for 2026.
German Cold Chain Market
Sabine Eichner, Managing Director, DTI
Germany’s frozen food and logistics market is a cornerstone of Europe’s food economy, valued at billions of euros and driven by steady growth in consumer demand for convenience and quality. Recent trends show rising consumption of frozen products across retail and foodservice channels, fueled by changing lifestyles and sustainability priorities. At the same time, the industry faces challenges such as energy costs, supply chain resilience, and evolving regulatory frameworks that shape operations and compliance. Leading executives will share insights on how companies are adapting to these dynamics, leveraging innovation and efficiency to remain competitive in a rapidly shifting landscape.
Capital Access in Europe Amid Economic Shifts
Casper Roex, Partner, OC&C Strategy Consultants
Europe continues to demonstrate resilience and growth, even in a challenging global economic climate. The region remains a hub for mergers and acquisitions, market expansions, and new asset development, driven by robust financial systems and investor confidence. What makes European finance strong? A combination of diverse capital sources, regulatory stability, and innovation-friendly policies ensures that businesses can access funding for strategic growth. As companies seek to scale and adapt, Europe’s dynamic financial ecosystem offers opportunities for long-term investment, sustainable development, and competitive advantage.
Conference Session | 15:15 - 16:30
Customer Insights- Food Sector Developments & Outlook
Juliana Violato, Senior Management Procurement, Tyson Foods
Explore the latest trends shaping the food sector, from growth patterns and evolving consumption behaviors to the factors redesigning supply chains and shifting trade routes. This session will examine how macroeconomic conditions, geopolitics, sustainability goals and technological advancements influence operations, and discuss expectations for supply chain and logistics networks to optimize efficiency and support seamless product distribution.
Fit for the Future - Building the Secure, Modern Border We Need for European Food Trade
Panelists
Alice O’Donovan, Secretary General – CELCAA
Matteo Alexander Nenciolini, Sustainability Policy Manager, European Shippers Council
Tineke Van de Voorde, Key Account Manager, Port of Antwerp-Bruges
Moderator
Shane Brennan, Senior Vice President, Strategy, Partnerships, and Policy, GCCA
Experts from across the protein, produce, and broader food supply chain will discuss on the context, practical experience, and opportunities for reform and modernisation in the way fresh and frozen foods move and are controlled through European Borders.
Conference Session | 9:00 - 10:15
Leadership Outlook: The Future of European Industry & Markets
Panelists
Andrew Mates, Managing Director, Europe, Americold
Abhy Maharaj, Chief Growth and Transformation Officer, Constellation Cold Logistics
Kevin Marchetti, Co-Founder, Lineage
The European industry is navigating a perfect storm of economic headwinds, regulatory shifts, and rapid technological disruption. How are leaders steering their organizations through this complex environment? This dynamic panel discussion brings together industry-defining executives to debate the "real-time" state of the European market. We'll explore the trends that are fundamentally reshaping business models, competitive landscapes, and investment priorities. This is not just a review of the market; it's a strategic conversation about building resilience and driving growth in uncertain times.
Conference Session | 10:45 - 12:15
AI Hype vs. Cyber Reality
Jonathan Cook, Information Security Director, Constellation Cold Logistics
With AI transforming communications and logistics, cyber risks are growing, making businesses more vulnerable. This session focuses on practical realities, not futuristic hype. Explore how AI is being used in cold chain logistics, potential cyber intrusions, and strategies to secure infrastructure and transportation systems efficiently. Learn how to train your workforce to be risk-aware and adopt effective cyber hygiene. We'll also cover key insights on the NIS-2 Directive and its impact on business responsibilities.
The New Infrastructure Imperative: Funding a Resilient, Low-Carbon Future
Chris Hegadorn, Adjunct Professor of Global Food Politics, Sciences Po Paris
Recent global disruptions and crises have exposed the vulnerability of interconnected food, energy, and supply systems. As volatility increases, governments can no longer rely solely on market forces—they must treat the security of food and other essential resources as a strategic priority. Yet limited financial capacity and rising political polarization are weakening the ability to respond and cooperate internationally. While sectors like energy and critical minerals have received significant attention, the food system remains especially vulnerable and lacks robust tools to build resilience. Join expert Chris Hegadorn to explore how stress‑testing simulations can reveal systemic risks and spark practical solutions to help governments prepare for the increasingly frequent disruptions ahead.
Conference Session | 13:15 - 14:15
Smartening Supply Chains': How Technology Innovation Enhances Business Efficiency & Reduces Environmental Impact
Aurélien Gagnon, Supply Chain Specialist, Auchan
Marc Galant, Innovation maker & Global offering leader, IBM
Join this session to discover how Auchan, one of the world’s leading retailers, is transforming asset management, boosting supply chain efficiency, and reducing its carbon footprint—all while ensuring food safety—through the use of IBM Smart Green Pallets.
Auchan has deployed 50,000 smart green pallets across its logistics warehouses and stores in France as part of a pilot initiative. Early results show that real-time tracking and visibility have significantly improved logistics quality, strengthened collaboration across the supply chain, and enabled immediate corrective actions. This ensures products reach consumers under optimal temperature conditions. Experts will also explore how connecting and “smartening” the entire ecosystem can further enhance cold chain efficiency and safety, paving the way for a more sustainable and resilient retail supply chain.
Conference Session | 14:45 - 16:30
Cold Chain Development in Emerging Regions
Paulina Sokolova, Co-Founder & COO, Offgrid.Finance
Unlock new insights into cold chain infrastructure in Africa. Expert analysis will map market maturity and investment trends over time, highlighting standout leaders such as South Africa—while revealing where major gaps persist. Cold chain capacity remains highly fragmented, with storage facilities often clustered around ports and major transport corridors, leaving production zones underserved. This session will explore the structural and financing challenges that hold the sector back but also new models that are emerging to unlock the sector’s potential.
Picnic: A Revolution in E-Groceries
Anna Hannemann, PhD., Head of Product, Picnic
Learn how Picnic is reinventing grocery shopping through an affordable, sustainable service powered by cutting‑edge technology, efficient planning, an iconic electric fleet and passionate teams. Picnic manages nearly all operations in-house, including forecasting, building automated warehouses, own management system software, developing new electric vehicles, and creating both internal and customer-facing applications. This end‑to‑end ownership enables the company to continuously improve and reinvent how groceries reach customers.
Nomad Foods Consumer Research: Frozen in Focus, a New Ice Age
Oliver Thomas, Head of Corporate Affairs, Nomad Foods
Frozen food is entering a new era – one where its value is being increasingly recognised beyond convenience. The frozen food industry is poised for significant growth, with the total European frozen food market currently sized at approximately €55 billion today. To understand the evolving role frozen food plays in consumers' lives now and in the years to come, Nomad Foods’ first-ever Frozen in Focus report outlines the different roles that frozen food (and the freezer) plays in consumers’ lives in 2025.
Facility Visit | 9:00 - 13:30
Join a guided visit to e-retailer Pic-Nic's automated fulfillment center in Oberhausen. Pic-Nic has recently launched a highly automated fulfillment center in Oberhausen, Germany, marking a major milestone in its expansion within the German market. The facility features cutting-edge automation to ensure optimal efficiency and customer service.-
A warehouse powered by 1,500 autonomous robots.
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Operations in 3 temperature zones (-18°C to +20°C) for product quality.
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Orders processed at 60+ workstations and dedicated high-volume zones.
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Processes up to 33,000 customer orders daily.
This tour will sell out! The tour requires pre-registration and has an additional fee. Add this to your cart at checkout today.
