2026 Cold Chain Institute Europe
Programme
Cold Chain Trivia
Network, Compete & Collaborate
Think you know the cold chain? Get ready to put your industry expertise to the test in a fun, high-energy environment. Our Cold Chain Trivia Challenge is the perfect opportunity to unwind, connect with colleagues, and engage in some friendly rivalry.
We’re mixing it up by creating teams of students, advisors, and faculty. It's a unique chance to collaborate, share knowledge across generations, and see who truly knows the ins and outs of the temperature-controlled supply chain.
General Sessions
Cold Chain Innovation: Is -18°C Still the Right Temperature? Rethinking Frozen Food Logistics for a More Sustainable Future
Rian Timmermans, Scientist and project leader mild processing and preservation at Wageningen UR Food & Biobased Research
As the food industry seeks to reduce emissions and improve energy efficiency, could frozen food storage and transport temperatures be safely optimised? This interactive session will explore emerging research, including insights from the FROSTEQ project, examining whether the long-established -18°C standard for frozen food logistics could be adjusted while maintaining the highest standards of food safety, product quality, and consumer confidence. Following a brief introduction to the science behind temperature optimisation, participants will be invited to engage in a lively discussion on the opportunities and challenges associated with rethinking frozen food temperature standards.
Designing Cold Chains for Volatility and Risk
Marc Aupers, Senior Director, Commercial Perishables Vertical, Europe, DP World
Cold chains are increasingly exposed to geopolitical disruption, with tensions around the Strait of Hormuz adding pressure through higher energy costs, constrained shipping capacity, insurance risk, and longer transit times. This session will examine how these shocks affect handling, reliability, and product quality, and where value is most at risk across the supply chains. The discussion will focus on practical ways to build resilience through stronger coordination, flexible routing, better contingency planning, and service models designed for volatility rather than stable conditions.
Courses
The Cold Chain Institute features a comprehensive curriculum focused on best practices in the refrigerated warehousing and logistics industries. Our carefully curated faculty of industry specialists will guide students through key areas of cold chain logistics management, including customer service, employee safety, food safety, warehouse operations, transport operations, and professional development.
The courses listed below for Year 1, Year 2, and Year 3 are highlights from our curriculum. The complete programme, including detailed course descriptions, is available in the linked PDF.